Groups say wetlands are being threatened by Indiana bill

indiana-senate

INDIANAPOLIS — Democrats, environmental groups and some business leaders are opposing a bill before the Indiana General Assembly that would redefine “wetlands.”

Senate Bill 414 originally dealt with storage of residential sewage but was amended on Wednesday to redefine what constitutes a wetland.

“Under the amendment, a Class I wetland would be redefined as a wetland that supports minimal wildlife, aquatic habitat and hydrologic function,” wrote Elizabeth Mahoney, citing an article in the Indiana Business Journal (IBJ), March 22, 2023. “Under current Indiana law, a wetland only has to meet one of those thresholds to be classied as a Class I Wetland.”

The amendment was introduced by Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, a member of the Indiana Builders Association and the state representative for Indiana on the board of directors for the National Association of Homebuilders.

On Thursday the IBJ stated, “It includes similar language that was stripped from an earlier version of Senate Enrolled Act 389, a controversial 2021 bill that eliminated a 2003 law requiring builders and developers to secure permits for construction and development in certain state-regulated wetlands. The legislation also ended enforcement against landowners accused of violating wetlands laws.”

The IBJ also quoted Greg Ellis, vice president of environment and energy policy for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as saying that if the amendment passes it would basically undo the protections that have been enacted in the past several years.

Another voice spoke in opposition to the bill as amended.

“The Hoosier Environmental Council was dismayed by the surprise amendment to SB 414 aimed at further reducing protection of wetlands in Indiana,” Indra Frank, environmental health and water policy director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, said in a statement to IBJ. “The amendment clearly demonstrates a continued lack of understanding of the value of wetlands among legislators.”

The Indiana Wetlands Task Force, which was created as part of the 2021 bill, issued a report in October recommending stronger protections for the state’s wetlands.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, who joined critics in opposing Senate Bill 389 in its original form, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the IBJ.