Indiana Conservation Voters Promote Local Regulation

Dear Editor,

As Hoosiers, we know how unpredictable our weather can be—especially this time of year. 

With recent heavy rains flooding streets and washing debris into our waterways, it’s clearer than ever why strong local stormwater management is essential. That’s why lawmakers must reject proposed legislation that would strip local governments of their ability to set higher standards than the state’s.  

House Bill 1037 would prohibit cities and towns from enacting construction stormwater regulations more stringent than those set by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The result? Construction projects under an acre would no longer be subject to local stormwater permits, leaving them unregulated. In urban areas, where small projects are common, that’s a recipe for disaster.  

Stormwater permits are not bureaucratic red tape. They protect our roads from potholes and our water from harmful pollutants. Sediment is the most common contaminant in our waterways and drinking water sources, often carrying chemical pollutants along with it. Without local regulations, increased sedimentation, flooding, and pollution become real risks, especially as more construction continues to pop up in our neighborhoods.  

Think about the downpours we’ve just experienced. Imagine the increased mud, runoff and flooding if even more sediment was left unchecked because local authorities had their hands tied. The reality is that without these protections, local water utilities, ratepayers, and taxpayers would be stuck cleaning up messes that could have been contained at the source. This means worse road conditions, dirtier water and higher water bills for all of us. 

Small site regulations aren’t the only thing on the chopping block. HB 1037 would also remove the ability for stormwater professionals to protect their communities from cleanup costs and make it harder to maintain stormwater infrastructure after construction is completed. Indiana’s landscape is diverse, and the same stormwater protections that work fine in Central Indiana don’t make sense in Northwest Indiana. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t make sense for our waterways.

We can’t afford to make it easier for construction projects to pollute our streets and waterways. Lawmakers need to put communities first and vote no on this misguided legislation.

Desi Rybolt

Conservation Campaign Manager

Indiana Conservation Voters