INDIANAPOLIS – Tuesday, Governor Mike Braun signed two executive orders he says are aimed at "reducing over-regulation" of the state's environmental policies.
According to a press release from the Governor's office, Indiana will align environmental standards with federal laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act but will avoid implementing any "new and more stringent" regulation.
It's Braun's belief, according to the release, that states that go further than federal standards stifle innovation and raise the cost of living.
"We can protect our environment and grow our economy, and the federal standards of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are an appropriate baseline to strike that balance," Braun said. "Adhering to the national standards will give Hoosier businesses and communities regulatory certainty and encourage new businesses to invest and grow here in Indiana where they know the compliance framework already — all while safeguarding Hoosiers’ health and preserving our natural resources.”
Also in the order, Braun establishes that Indiana's environmental policy will be based on what he calls "sound science" rather than what he says are politicized ideologies like “environmental justice.”
“Indiana’s environmental policy will be based solely on sound science - not a political agenda like ‘environmental justice.’ My environmental policy is all about preserving our abundant natural resources, fostering economic development, and safeguarding Hoosiers’ health,” Braun said.
Braun stresses that his approach to environmental regulation is meant to preserve natural resources and economic development.
