Errington’s amendment to protect wetland protections denied testimony

INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the House Environmental Affairs Committee considered House Bill 1383, a continuation of the controversial Senate Bill 389 (2021), which removed protections for Indiana's wetlands by no longer requiring the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to issue permits for development on state-protected wetlands. In response, state Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) offered an amendment to the bill which would ensure faster, easier, and more efficient and convenient wetland permitting in Indiana and redefine wetland classification. The committee decided against taking testimony on the amendment.

Please attribute the following statement to Errington:

“I am disappointed in the committee's resistance to these bill revisions. My amendment offers an alternative, which replaces the complex three-step classification unique to Indiana with federally accepted classification standards. Additionally, it would broaden the permit eligibility and establish clear deadlines to issue permits.

“I'm deeply concerned that the environmental community was not represented in discussions on how to best balance developmental growth with the preservation of Indiana's wetland ecosystems. When stakeholders have these discussions, they need to ensure that all stakeholders are included.

“Wetlands play a critical role in our state's ecosystem. They improve our water quality and are home to many unique species of plants and animals. Similarly, they naturally absorb rainwater, reducing flooding. As we continue to reduce our wetlands, we will inevitably face increased flooding.
 
“Despite this, Republicans have worked tirelessly to weaken wetland protections in favor of new development opportunities. Once they're gone, Indiana's wetlands cannot be replaced. As a legislature, it is our responsibility to resist harmful policies that further diminish our state's natural resources.

“In the future, I hope that we can mirror the standard federal regulations and ensure environmental advocates are given a chance to voice their opinions on these issues.“errin