Environmental Affairs

Amends, repeals, or adds certain terms. Makes certain changes concerning the purpose, structure, and powers of the department of environmental management (department) or the environmental rules board. Prohibits the department from basing a decision solely on federal risk values that have not been promulgated through federal rulemaking. Instructs the department to avoid the use of federal risk values that are at or below background concentrations in air, water, soil, or sediment. Makes certain changes to various boards or funds. Eliminates or amends rulemaking provisions. Makes certain changes to hearing and permitting processes. Changes or eliminates certain reporting requirements. Makes various changes to the water pollution statutes. Makes various changes to the solid waste and hazardous waste management statutes. Repeals or amends various sections regarding: (1) hazardous substances; (2) the voluntary remediation programs; (3) regional water districts; and (4) citizen lawsuits. Amends provisions concerning the establishment of certain fees and the use of fee schedules. Repeals the division of pollution prevention and the office of voluntary compliance. Makes conforming, stylistic, and technical changes.

Specifies that a board of trustees of a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district (board) must notify the district authority in writing before taking certain actions. Provides that a trustee appointed to a board serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Prohibits a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district (district) created after June 30, 2026, from incurring any indebtedness without first obtaining the approval of the county fiscal body. Specifies that if a district created after June 30, 2026, contains territory in more than one county, the district must first obtain the approval of each county fiscal body in which the district contains territory before incurring any indebtedness. Establishes a timeline for the county fiscal body to approve or deny a district's request to incur indebtedness.

Provides that a retailer may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale a covered battery or battery containing product unless: (1) the producer joins a battery stewardship organization; and (2) the battery is approved under a battery stewardship plan. Provides that a battery stewardship organization shall submit a battery stewardship plan (plan) to the Indiana department of environmental management (department) for approval. Sets out certain requirements with respect to a plan. Establishes the battery stewardship fund to cover the department's expenses in administering this act. Requires the department to publish certain information regarding battery recycling on the department's website. Provides that a battery stewardship organization may recover, under certain circumstances, all costs associated with collecting a covered battery from the producer. Allows fee based and nonfee based collection and recycling programs to operate under certain conditions. Prohibits a person from improperly recycling a covered battery. Defines certain terms. Provides that a producer and battery stewardship organization are exempt from state antitrust law with respect to planning, reporting, or operating a battery stewardship program.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the state department: (1) must be protective of public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) may not be less stringent than any maximum contaminant level or health advisory promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Requires the department of environmental management to adopt maximum contaminant levels for PFAS chemicals and effluent limitation standards for wastewater containing PFAS chemicals by July 1, 2027. Creates various compliance requirements for direct dischargers and indirect dischargers. Establishes various civil penalties. Establishes the PFAS chemical testing and remediation fund. Creates a PFAS chemical grant program.