Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Up to $100,000 in funding is now available through IDEM’s Community Recycling Grant Program (CRGP). 💰 Eligible Indiana counties, municipalities, schools, universities, solid waste management districts, and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 to support recycling, household hazardous waste collection, waste reduction, organics management, and education initiatives. 📅 Applications are open now through June 26, 2026. Check out what Marshall County has to say about the $18,844 CRGP grant they received to fund an education campaign that provides awareness and access to clear and engaging information about recycling opportunities. Learn more and apply at on.IN.gov/crgp

Meet Caleb Rennaker, IDEM’s Watershed Planning & Restoration Section Chief. Originally from Converse, Ind., he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences from Purdue University and also holds certifications in Watershed Management and Lean Six Sigma from Purdue. Before joining IDEM, Caleb worked as the Aquarium Manager for Cabela’s in Fort Worth, Texas, where he cared for freshwater fish exhibits and even had the opportunity to dive with species like Alligator Gar. Today, he oversees Indiana’s Nonpoint Source and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) programs, helping identify and address water quality issues across the state through watershed planning, stakeholder collaboration, and local grant-funded projects aimed at improving Indiana waterways. Outside of work, Caleb enjoys cooking BBQ and smoking meat, hiking, and traveling with his family.

Last weekend, IDEM Emergency Response received an anonymous tip regarding cooking oil being dumped into a storm sewer near Morse Reservoir in Hamilton County. An onsite inspection revealed evidence of routine fryer‑grease dumping, with visible oil residue around the storm grate located behind a nearby restaurant. Storm drains are for rainwater only🚫🛢️. Dumping used cooking oil into storm drains can harm water quality, clog infrastructure, and threaten aquatic life downstream.🐟 The impacted storm line has been cleaned & IDEM has turned the incident over to local authorities, who are now working directly with the restaurant to provide education on proper handling and disposal of used oil, along with any necessary further investigation.

IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods joined EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel, Rep. Beau Baird, Indiana agriculture leaders, and conservation partners at Fair Oaks Farms to learn more about innovative environmental practices happening on Indiana farms. The visit highlighted manure collection, anaerobic digestion, renewable compressed natural gas production, nutrient recovery, and renewable nutrient harvesting technologies helping support water quality and sustainability across Indiana agriculture. U.S. EPA also announced new Farmer-to-Farmer grant funding opportunities to support farmer-led projects focused on water quality, habitat, resilience, and environmental education across working lands. Learn more about the grant here: https://bit.ly/4uJaC8f

Indiana stands out among states for our robust inspection programs. Timely and comprehensive inspections ensure environmental concerns are quickly identified and managed, preventing small issues from becoming bigger problems. According to the U.S. EPA Inspector General, IDEM meets or exceeds federal goals for inspecting larger facilities that generate hazardous waste. Thanks to our inspectors, Indiana achieved: ▶️ 100% inspection coverage based on hazardous waste type; and ▶️ 94% inspection coverage based on number of facilities. IDEM is committed to strong environmental oversight that safeguards communities, encourages responsible industry practices, and strengthens Indiana’s overall environmental health. Read the report: https://bit.ly/4nocu3M

Indiana is strengthening cybersecurity protections for water utilities through implementation of SEA 459. 🔐💧 As highlighted in IDEM’s 2025 Annual Report, the new requirements help protect critical water infrastructure through cybersecurity incident reporting, annual vulnerability assessments, and designated cybersecurity contacts at regulated facilities. IDEM continues supporting water utilities across the state as these protections are implemented. Check out the annual report here: https://bit.ly/4ttnmzG

Indiana continues to lead the nation in permitting efficiency. The U.S. EPA recently recognized IDEM for having less than a 1% backlog of individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) renewal permits, far below the national average of 21%. As of May 2026, Indiana’s backlog ranks second in the nation with the only state with a smaller backlog (North Dakota) processing a fraction of the permits Indiana does. This reflects IDEM’s commitment to timely permitting and protecting Indiana’s water quality. Maintaining a low permit backlog helps ensure projects move forward efficiently while continuing to protect Indiana’s water quality and environment for future generations.

The Water Enforcement Section at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management went on our second annual tour to a wastewater treatment plant to ensure we’re continuously learning. We were also joined by other staff in our branch. Shout out to Kim Rohr for getting this set up and educating the group during the tour, and thank you to the City of Fishers for allowing us to tour your plant!

Meet Kate Robinson, an Environmental Manager within the Petroleum Storage Tank Operations Section at IDEM. Originally from the Chicago area, Kate now calls Greenfield home. She joined IDEM after previously serving as an Animal Control Officer for Hancock County. With a background in sustainable permaculture and organic chemistry, she was drawn to IDEM through her passion for protecting both the environment and public health. In her current role, Kate reviews petroleum release incidents and reimbursement claims through IDEM’s Excess Liability Trust Fund (ELTF), as well as applications for the agency’s 50% Reimbursement Program for aging underground storage tanks. One of the highlights of her work has been seeing the program help remove hundreds of potentially leaking tanks from Indiana communities since its launch in 2023. Outside of work, Kate enjoys reading thriller and sci-fi novels, caring for her pets, and maintaining a home compost and worm farm.

IDEM is introducing a new Local Air Quality Advisory (LAQA) to help keep Hoosiers informed about short-term air quality conditions that may affect sensitive groups. These advisories may be issued during conditions like smoke, stagnant air, temperature inversions, fireworks, or leaf burning that can temporarily raise fine particle pollution levels. Subscribe here for air quality alerts and advisories: https://bit.ly/43DJyx2