Contamination at former Coca-Cola plant site extends into neighborhood
The developer who is planning a $260 million redevelopment of the downtown property says a contaminant has seeped into the adjacent Chatham Arch area.
Environment
Articles
Transition official: Trump wants to slash EPA workforce, budget
The EPA has been roiled by turmoil during its first week under President Donald Trump, as members of the transition team issued what it has described as a temporary freeze on all contract approvals and grant awards.
Bill alarms solar-power advocates
Critics say the bill would effectively wipe out a key financial incentive for homeowners and businesses to install rooftop solar systems and windmills.
Northwestern Indiana man to be consumer counselor
The appointee, Bill Fine, held an Indiana House seat representing northwest Indiana before losing the seat in the November election.
Former IDEM leader to lead Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources
Carol Comer, who served as commissioner of Indiana’s Department of Environmental Management until earlier this month, has already landed a new job in Missouri.
Judge denies injunction to block VA’s Crown Hill cemetery project
The Indiana Forest Alliance said the judge's ruling "makes a travesty of our environmental law" and vowed to appeal.
Obama’s EPA moves to preserve gas-mileage requirements
Friday’s action keeps in place pollution-reduction targets for the years 2022-2025. That means the fleet of new cars will have to average 51.4 miles per gallon by 2025, up more than 18 mpg from the 33.2 mpg requirement in 2015, the most recent year available.
U.S. government accuses Fiat Chrysler of cheating on emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a “notice of violation” to the company that covers about 104,000 vehicles, including the 2014 through 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram pickups.
Closing IPL’s toxic ponds could cost millions
As IPL ditches coal in favor of natural gas at power plants in Indianapolis and Martinsville, the utility wants to close their coal ash pits, cover the tops with plastic membranes, and top them off with nearly three feet of sand and soil.
Bicentennial trust preserves more than 11,000 Indiana acres
The program works to acquire land for conservation and recreation. It honors the establishment of the state park system, which was created in 1916 to commemorate Indiana's centennial.
UPDATE: Forest Alliance sues to stop Crown Hill cemetery project
The controversy over the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ plans to develop a military cemetery on 15 wooded acres north of Crown Hill Cemetery has ended up in court.
Brehob Nursery sells to out-of-state conglomerate
Brehob, founded in 1969 and employing about 170 workers for most of year, will move its corporate offices from the south side of Indianapolis to Westfield.
Companies plan $100M recycling center in Indiana, 256 jobs
Construction at the site, which will include a recycling center and a plastics-to-diesel facility, is expected to begin in 2017.
Indiana utility watchdog Stippler set to retire
David Stippler, Indiana’s official advocate for utility customers, who often pushes back against utilities that want to raise rates, plans to retire Jan. 1 after 11 years in office.
EPA proposes expanded use of Dow Agro-made herbicide
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed more than doubling the number of states allowed to use a new version of a popular weed killer on genetically modified crops despite its earlier concerns.
Animal group shutting its doors next month, placing critters in new homes
The area not-for-profit organization says its bookings for educational programs have slowed considerably this year, and it’s closing down rather than operate at a loss.
Dow-DuPont’s modified corn fails to control pest, scientists say
Corn containing the Herculex trait isn’t controlling the western bean cutworm, six entomologists from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania wrote in an " open letter to the seed industry" posted on the website of Purdue University.
Indiana wind turbines slow down to protect bats during migration
A study from academic journal Bioscience said 600,000 to 900,000 bats are killed by wind turbines each year in the United States.
Indiana hunting measure pits animal versus gun rights
The measure pits two aggressive lobbies against each other: animal rights activists and the National Rifle Association.
Holcomb, Gregg disagree about how to manage state forests
Democrat gubernatorial candidate John Gregg says there’s too much logging going on in Indiana state forests, while Republican opponent Eric Holcomb defends the state’s practices.