Executive Orders Reduce Over-Regulation, Create Opportunity While Protecting Environment

Gov. Braun signed two executive orders.

INDIANAPOLIS - Governor Mike Braun today signed two executive orders on environmental policy focused on preserving our abundant natural resources while fostering growth in Indiana. 

Executive Order 25-38: Creating Opportunity and Reducing Over-Regulation While Protecting Our Environment 

Federal laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act establish baseline national standards for environmental protection, and states implement those standards within their borders. 

Many states go further than the federal standards and create a complex web of regulations for businesses and farmers to navigate, stifling innovation and raising the cost of living. 

This executive order makes the federal environmental standards of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act Indiana’s standards, and ensures that the state will not adopt new regulations more stringent than those national standards unless required by state law or deemed necessary by the Governor’s office to address specific needs. 

"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. 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.” —  Governor Mike Braun

Executive Order 25-37: Indiana’s Environmental Policy Will be Based on Sound Science, not Politicized ‘Environmental Justice’ 

Fourteen states have “environmental justice” initiatives, designed to make environmental policy decisions on the basis of race and other factors. 

This executive order makes clear that Indiana will not use the concept of “environmental justice” in the state’s permitting or enforcement decisions. 

“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.” —  Governor Mike Braun