The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will accept public comments on Indiana’s newly approved coal combustion residuals (CCR) permitting program. The agency is inviting Indiana residents, businesses, and interested parties to share their views on the state’s takeover of the CCR management system.

Public hearing details

The EPA will hold an in‑person hearing on November 12 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Indiana Government Center, 302 W. Washington St., in Wabash Hall Conference Rooms 4 and 5. Those who cannot attend in person may submit written comments online through the EPA’s portal until November 16.

Background on the program

In September, the EPA approved a petition from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to assume responsibility for permitting and overseeing CCR disposal sites, a role the federal agency previously performed. CCR, commonly known as coal ash, is the residue left after coal is burned for electricity. It contains toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lithium, and molybdenum, which have been linked to cancer and other health risks.

According to the nonprofit environmental law group Earthjustice, Indiana is home to roughly 1,000 CCR disposal sites, including eight ponds at the AES Indiana Harding Street Station on the city’s south side. Monitoring data from 2024 showed groundwater near several of those ponds contained arsenic, lithium, and molybdenum above federal safety standards. Earlier, in 2020, investigators found that metals from the same site had migrated off‑site into a neighboring quarry.

State versus federal standards

While IDEM will now manage the permitting process, the agency must still comply with federal environmental regulations. However, Indiana law prevents the state program from imposing standards that are more stringent than those set by the EPA. This limitation has raised concerns among some environmental advocates who argue that stronger state safeguards could better protect Indiana’s water supplies.

How to comment

Residents can submit their comments in person at the hearing or online via the EPA’s public comment portal. The agency encourages participants to provide specific feedback on the adequacy of state oversight, potential health impacts, and any suggestions for improving monitoring and enforcement.

About the source

The story was originally reported by Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom funded through grants and individual donations. Reporter Enrique Saenz covers western Indianapolis and can be reached at 317‑983‑4203 or [email protected].

Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.