Gov. Mike Braun signed two executive orders on environmental policy, limiting Indiana’s environmental standards to the federal standards and preventing Indiana from adopting “environmental justice” practices.
Executive Order 25-38, “Creating Opportunity and Reducing Over-Regulation While Protecting Our Environment,” makes federal standards like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act the standards for Indiana’s environmental regulations.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, many states go beyond these regulations and create “a complex web” for businesses and farmers to navigate. Under the new order, the state cannot adopt new regulations more stringent than the federal ones unless required by state law or deemed necessary by Braun.
“We can protect our environment and grow our economy, and the federal standards of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are an appropriate baseline to strike that balance,” Braun said. “Adhering to the national standards will give Hoosier businesses and communities regulatory certainty and encourage new businesses to invest and grow here in Indiana where they know the compliance framework already — all while safeguarding Hoosiers’ health and preserving our natural resources.”
Under Executive Order 25-37, “environmental justice” will be prohibited in the state’s permitting or enforcement decisions. According to the release, “environmental justice” initiatives make environmental policy decisions based on race and other factors.
“Indiana’s environmental policy will be based solely on sound science — not a political agenda like ‘environmental justice,’” Braun said. “My environmental policy is all about preserving our abundant natural resources, fostering economic development and safeguarding Hoosiers’ health.”
For a full list of Braun’s executive orders, visit in.gov/newsroom/executive-orders.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
