Monday will be a big day for our environment - at the state, local, and federal level - which means that we urge you to take action this weekend!

1. At the state level, call lawmakers re: factory farms, solar energy, & forest funding.

2. At the local level (if you are a resident of Indianapolis), email your City Councilors to express your support for mass transit, climate action, & forests.

3. At the federal level, add the office numbers of your Senators to your phones - and contact Senator Young about Crown Hill North Woods.

And be sure to check out an array of events below to get informed & engaged!

House Bill 1494 was amended yet again this week. Unfortunately, this latest amendment did nothing to improve this bill.

HB 1494, as it currently stands:

• Creates confusion about what sort of approval is needed from IDEM before expanding a factory farm;
• Creates confusion about whether notice to neighbors before expanding a factory farm is required;
• Replaces the current required disclosure of the true owners of a factory farm and their full environmental histories with a weakened provision that requires disclosure only a.) of the person responsible for permit compliance and b.) that person's environmental track record for the 5 years preceding the application.

Indiana's safeguards from factory farms are already weak.   Our state environmental agency (IDEM's) only legal basis to deny a permit --- to construct or expand a factory farm -- is for making a "material misrepresentation" in the permit application. By limiting the scope of disclosure and creating confusion as to what is required to expand a factory farm, HB 1494 takes us in the wrong direction. 

To learn more visit our Bill Watch 2017 page.

TAKE ACTION :

The House of Representatives will likely vote on this dangerous measure on Monday. So, it is imperative that you urge your Representative BEFORE MONDAY to vote NO on HB 1494! It is always best to call (and leave a voicemail if need be) as opposed to sending an email.

Leave a voicemail for your Senator BEFORE MONDAY.  Urge a NO vote on SB 309!

On Monday the Indiana House will adopt the budget bill, HB 1001.

Disappointingly, the House version of the new state budget contains no new investments in environmental protection or conservation of outdoor lands. HEC and partners have sought to reverse the decline in funding for IDEM and the Indiana DNR, boost investment in new public land conservation via the Harrison Conservation Trust and increase funding for Clean Water Indiana. We have also joined with sustainable transportation advocates to support more funding for mass transit and passenger rail service, including the Hoosier State line between Indianapolis and Chicago.

If you're a resident of Indianapolis, Monday will be a big day for the cause of environmental sustainability, with final votes taking place on the historic mass transit funding plan and on a landmark "climate recovery" resolution!

This weekend, please email your City Councilor to:

1. Vote "Yes" for the transit funding proposal.

2. Vote "Yes" for the climate recovery resolution.

3. Urge Mayor Joe Hogsett to advocate for the no-harm solution to avoid the irreversible damage to Crown Hill North Woods, the largest old growth forest in our capital city.

Donald Trump is expected to soon sign Executive Orders that will dismantle or seriously weaken the Obama Administration's policies to address climate change and to improve the quality of some of our key drinking water sources. In general, Americans who care about the environment, whatever their political background, must be engaged to stand up for important protections of our air, water, and climate.

1. Please add the office numbers of U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (202-224-4814) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (202-224-5623) to your cell phone.

2. Contact your U.S. Senators and request them to contact the U.S. Veterans Administration and urge the "no harm alternative" to the Crown Hill North Woods -- a solution that would honor our veterans and forever protect the beautiful natural heritage of the North Woods.   

3. "Like" Hoosier Environmental Council on Facebook to follow daily developments that affect your  environment at the state, local, and national levels. 

4. Respond to our federal-related calls to action by calling the DC numbers for your U.S. Senators above -- and ask to speak to an actual Staff member.