INDIANAPOLIS â Wetlands legislation that had seen compromises added that were favorable to environmental groups ended up passing Tuesday with those changes stripped, providing little protection to Indiana classified wetlands.
The bill passed the House on a 58-40 tally, with numerous Republicans voting no on the final version, which saw amendments favorable to environmental groups stripped out at the last minute Monday.
Lawmakers from northeast Indiana, where much of the stateâs remaining wetlands can be found, voted against the bill. They included Reps. David Abbott, R-Albion, Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, and Denny Zent, R-Angola.
The bill now returns to the Senate where its author, Sen. Chris Garten, can either agree to the amendments to the bill or send it to a conference committee between the House and Senate to work out differences. Once that process is complete, the bill advances to Gov. Eric Holcombâs desk for approval or a veto.
Controversial Indiana environmental bills inch near passage
chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Controversial Indiana environmental bills inch near passage
apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Chicago lags far behind other cities in getting rid of brain-damaging lead pipes Even if Biden s $45 million replacement plan passes, city is ground zero for this problem
chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
General Assembly
CASEY SMITH | Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS – Lawmakers on Wednesday watered down a controversial bill seeking to remove protections from Indiana s already diminished wetlands amid mounting criticism that the proposal could cause damage to the state s waterways, wildlife and vegetation.
If passed, the measure would eliminate a 2003 law that requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to issue permits in a state-regulated wetland, and it would end enforcement proceedings against landowners who are allegedly violating current law.
An amendment approved unanimously by the House environmental affairs committee Wednesday scales back the intended repeal, however.
The amended bill no longer excludes all classes of wetlands from permitting requirements, but instead provides specific permitting exemptions for croplands and excludes ephemeral, or temporary, streams from being categorized as wetlands.