Indiana Takes Wheel on Coal Ash Cleanup Permits
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
Indiana wants to take charge of its own coal ash cleanup by running its own permit program instead of following the federal rules. The EPA thinks Indiana’s plan mostly works but wants your thoughts before giving the final thumbs-up. If approved, this change will start soon and could affect companies handling coal waste in Indiana, with no big costs expected for the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
State CCR Program Fees for Impoundments
If Indiana's program is approved, CCR surface impoundments will be billed an initial fee of $20,500. After that, operating impoundments or those without final closure certification will be billed $20,500 annually, while impoundments with final closure certification (or with final certification submitted but not responded to in time) will be billed $10,000 annually.
Permit Application Deadlines and Term Lengths
Under Indiana's program, owners/operators must submit permit applications within 180 days of the State program's effective date. IDEM must approve or deny new permit applications within 365 days; permits may be issued for a maximum of 5 years (with a potential future statutory maximum of 10 years), and renewal applications must be submitted at least 120 days before permit expiration.
Inspections, Monitoring, and Sampling Authority
IDEM inspectors may enter public or private property (with credentials) to inspect CCR units, gather records, take photographs, take samples, and place inspection reports in the public Virtual File Cabinet. Complaint-based inspections typically occur within 30 days of receipt of the complaint.
Enforcement Options and Citizen Intervention Rights
IDEM has multiple enforcement tools against violators, including Violation Letters, Notices of Violation, Agreed Orders (with civil penalties), Commissioner's Orders, and civil actions. Citizens of Indiana may intervene in administrative or judicial proceedings and IDEM posts enforcement documents online (OE and VFC) and responds to citizen complaints, with complaint inspections typically occurring within 30 days.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19071, Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units
The EPA is rolling back most of the 2024 rules that limited carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants. This change affects coal and gas plants by easing some strict limits on emissions and carbon capture technology. The new rules kick in on November 16, 2026, potentially saving money for power plants but raising questions about pollution control.
2026-19072, Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Clean Air Act Section 111
The EPA is proposing to cancel all greenhouse gas rules for fossil fuel power plants, saying the law doesn’t let them regulate these emissions for climate reasons. This change affects power plants across the U.S. and could impact future pollution limits and costs. Comments on this proposal are open until November 2, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
2026-18317, Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”
The purpose of this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking is for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army ("the agencies") to supplement and seek additional comment on certain aspects of an earlier proposal, published on November 20, 2025, to revise the regulations defining the scope of waters federally covered under the Clean Water Act in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. As stated in the agencies' November 20, 2025 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the agencies intend for this rulemaking to provide greater regulatory certainty and increase Clean Water Act program predictability and consistency by clarifying the definition of "waters of the United States." After consideration of the public comments received on the NPRM, the agencies are issuing this notice to supplement the NPRM with additional regulatory options on certain aspects of the proposed rule.
2026-14112, Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions for SCR-Equipped Diesel Engines
Starting with model year 2027, the EPA is updating rules for big truck engines to make sure they last longer and pollute less. They’re also letting engine makers pay penalties if their engines don’t meet standards, and tightening rules for special pollution-control systems on diesel engines. These changes affect truck and engine makers and kick in soon, with public feedback due by August 29, 2026.
2026-13667, Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans
The EPA wants to give states more freedom to decide how much public input is needed when approving small air pollution sources or changes. This means local air agencies can tailor public participation to fit their community’s needs while still protecting air quality. If you’re involved in air permits, watch for comment deadlines and possible virtual hearings this summer!
2026-13263, Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems
The EPA is rolling out the sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) to check for new, sneaky chemicals in public drinking water. Big water systems serving 3,300+ people and some smaller ones will test for 30 different contaminants, including certain PFAS and pesticides, to keep our water safe. Comments and feedback are open until late August 2026, and the EPA will host fun online meetings to chat about the plan!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-19013, Racial Nondiscrimination in Private Schools; Hearing
The IRS is proposing new rules to make sure private schools don’t discriminate based on race, color, or national origin if they want to keep their tax-exempt status. This affects private schools across the country and aims to promote fairness in admissions, scholarships, and other policies. A public hearing will be held by phone on December 2, 2026, with speaker outlines due by November 3, 2026.
Next: 2026-19057, Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Mystic River, Mystic, CT
The Coast Guard wants to change how the Route 1 Bridge in Mystic, CT, opens for boats. Right now, the bridge has special rules from November to April, but the Connecticut Department of Transportation asked to remove those limits so the bridge operates the same all year. This change affects boaters and drivers, and the public can share their thoughts by October 19, 2026.