Updated IDEM resource helps Hoosiers become involved in environmental decision-making process

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - For Indiana citizens interested in voicing their comments or learning more about  community environmental issues, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has updated a user-friendly, online resource.

IDEM’S “Guide for Citizen Participation” provides detailed instructions and information to help Hoosiers become more involved in environmental decision making. >From commenting on new permits to attending board meetings for new rulemaking, this guide will help Hoosiers better understand the process and prepare them for participating in public comment opportunities.

“There are many opportunities for citizens to engage in environmental decisions in Indiana, and this resource helps guide residents through the public comment process to ensure concerns are clearly heard and considered,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly.

Additional topics covered in the citizen’s guide include which agencies regulate environmental issues, how rules are made, and how the permit process works.

Information on how to be notified of hearings, meetings, and public comment periods, as well as resources for technical information, such as environmental data, permits, rules and laws, can also be found in the online guide.

“The key to participating in the process is understanding who makes decisions and how to provide input,” said Commissioner Easterly.

The guide can be accessed at www.idem.IN.gov/5803.htm.

Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management