Indiana Announces Initiative to Revise Air Permit Rules

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is launching two rulemaking efforts to revise its process of reviewing air permit applications and issuing air permits.

IDEM's first air permit rulemaking will focus on amendments to clarify definitions or to correct inconsistencies in current air permit rules. This initial rulemaking is essentially editorial in nature and is expected to be enacted relatively quickly.

The second proposed rulemaking will focus on more substantive issues affecting the regulated community, including: expanding the general permits program to cover additional industrial categories; establishing specific criteria to define what type of change in operations would trigger a higher permit level; and streamlining overlapping permit programs.

IDEM is establishing a public work group for these rulemakings. The first meeting is September 16, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Baker & Daniels LLP will participate in the work group and will provide periodic updates to clients on rulemaking issues which could impact your businesses now and in the future.