IDEM Staff Roles and Responsibilities

IDEM staff work to ensure that federal and state environmental regulations are implemented properly throughout Indiana, and that the regulated community achieves compliance with all applicable environmental requirements. To accomplish this, IDEM staff issue quality permits, provide compliance assistance services, conduct inspections and investigations, review records and reports, monitor emissions, encourage voluntary compliance and pollution prevention, and use enforcement as necessary when working with regulated entities. The regulated community consists of industrial facilities, manufacturers, municipalities, utilities, farming operations, and other businesses or individuals that potentially emit pollutants into the environment.

• Air Compliance and Enforcement:
  • Staff determine the compliance of regulated sources with air emissions rules and regulations by conducting inspections, investigations, reviewing records and reports, and evaluating stack testing. Staff also respond to complaints including open burning, fugitive dust, smoke, automobile tampering, and outdoor hydronic heaters. Staff take enforcement action as necessary to return companies or individuals to compliance. Also see Asbestos and Fire Training.
• Air Monitoring:
  • Staff conduct air quality monitoring across the state of Indiana for a variety of programs: National Ambient Air Quality Standards compliance, air quality trends, Air Quality Index, air quality mapping, and special monitoring projects.
• Air Permits:
  • Staff review applications and generate federal and state enforceable permits for air pollution sources that have the potential to emit regulated pollutants above specific emission thresholds established by law.
• Asbestos:
  • Staff check to make sure commercial buildings and residential buildings with more than four apartments or units have been properly inspected and asbestos removed prior to the start of demolition or renovation activities. Homeowners are exempt from notification and removal requirements, but not all disposal requirements. Those working to remove asbestos must be licensed to work in Indiana.
• Complaints:
  • IDEM’s complaint coordinator is the agency’s central point of contact for complaints about environmental pollution in Indiana and violations of air, land, or water permits issued by IDEM. The agency's policy is to take the first action in response to a complaint within 30 days of receiving the complaint, and to address each complaint within 90 days. The agency routinely works with other local, state, and federal agencies to address environmental concerns. Three ways to file a complaint are listed on IDEM’s File a Complaint page.
• Compliance and Technical Assistance Program (CTAP):
  • CTAP staff provide free, confidential compliance and technical assistance to regulated entities. CTAP has experience with air, water, and waste regulations. Staff can also identify pollution prevention opportunities to help businesses move into a less burdensome regulatory process. Contact CTAP for assistance.
• Confined Feeding Operations Compliance:
  • Staff educate farmers on the requirements of Indiana’s Confined Feeding Program and the laws and rules that govern it. They inspect large-scale animal feeding operations where animals are confined, fed, and housed for more than 45 days. Staff review compliance with environmental rules (especially regulations protecting water quality) and respond to complaints concerning manure storage, spills, and land application.
• Confined Feeding Operations Construction Compliance:
  • Confined feeding operations (CFO) permits staff review applications for CFO permit approvals. IDEM engineers review design drawings and construction engineers conduct inspections prior to and during construction of new manure storage structures. The CFO permit manager is a good point of contact for any question regarding a new permit or modification, renewal, or construction for any CFO permit. Permitting, Compliance, and Construction Compliance staff coverage maps are available on IDEM’s Animal Farms website.
• Confined Feeding Operations Permits:
  • Staff review applications and write federal and state enforceable permits for all confined feeding operations (CFO) meeting the definitions in the Indiana Confined Feeding Control Law (this would include all large, medium, and most small CAFOs as defined by federal regulations) where animals are confined, fed, and housed for more than 45 days. CFOs are not allowed to discharge and are permitted under Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) 327 IAC 19. Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that choose to discharge are required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Individual Permit under Indiana regulation 327 IAC 15-16.
• Construction Site Stormwater:
  • Staff conduct compliance inspections for active construction sites that disturb one acre or more of land. Sites that are regulated and permitted by IDEM are those where the land disturbance is one acre or more. Duties include plan review, site inspections, and complaint investigations. Questions about the status of a permit should be directed to the Stormwater Program.
• Drinking Water:
  • Staff ensure drinking water supplies meet all federal and state requirements by conducting inspections, monitoring, testing and reviewing records. Staff also responds to complaints about drinking water taste, odor, color, and sediments.
• Emergency Response:
  • Staff work to protect public health and to mitigate harm to the environment during spill events and environmental emergencies. Staff plan, train, and respond with local, state, and federal agencies to spills to land and water. Staff are available 24 hours a day to receive spill reports and provide response assistance. Please report environmental emergencies and spills to Office of Land Quality Emergency Response staff.
• Fire Training:
  • Indiana’s open burning rule, 326 IAC 4-1 [PDF], allows burning for the purpose of fire training by municipal and volunteer fire departments and other entities, such as businesses. Prior approval or notification is required before conducting the fire training. IDEM will provide the conditions required for burning in accordance with Indiana laws and rules, and issue public notification about the decision.
• Hazardous Waste Compliance:
  • Staff provide compliance assistance and inspect businesses that generate, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. This program also covers used oil and electronic waste (e-waste). Staff determine compliance with environmental rules and respond to complaints concerning mismanagement or improper disposal of these materials.
• Industrial Stormwater:
  • Staff work with industrial facilities to manage and monitor stormwater run-off. Staff inspect specific industrial sites that require stormwater permits as determined by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and the presence of a point source. Staff duties include plan review, site inspections, and complaint investigations. Contact the Stormwater Program for questions related to the status of a permit.
• Industrial Waste Compliance:
  • Staff provide compliance assistance and conduct inspections at industrial facilities that generate solid waste and at facilities that handle the waste generated by industrial sites (e.g., waste tire facilities, auto salvage facilities, restricted waste sites, and nonmunicipal solid waste landfills). Staff respond to complaints regarding mismanagement of industrial wastes. Staff also issue Legitimate Use approvals, which are necessary when a waste (e.g., tires, contaminated soil, foundry sand) will be reused in a way that puts the waste in contact with the land. Staff also issue waste classifications (see 329 IAC 10-9-4 [PDF]) which are used to determine if the waste is suitable for disposal in a certain landfill or for use under IC 13-19-3-7.
• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems:
  • Indiana’s stormwater general permit rule (327 IAC 15-13) regulates municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). MS4s are entities designated by IDEM to develop a local stormwater program. An MS4 is defined as a conveyance or system of conveyances owned by a state, city, town, or other public entity that discharges to waters of the United States and is designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater. Regulated conveyance systems include roads with drains, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, storm drains, piping, channels, ditches, tunnels and conduits. It does not include combined sewer overflows and publicly owned treatment works. There are 189 MS4s in Indiana and not all cities and counties are designated. The program is administered through the Stormwater Program with primary responsibility and oversight performed by the MS4 coordinator. Compliance is monitored through a program audit process.
• Open Burning/Trash Burning:
  • Open burning is prohibited in Indiana, but a few exemptions are allowed, such as recreational or ceremonial fires (e.g., scouting activities, campfire cooking) using only clean wood, paper, charcoal, and clean petroleum products. Burning trash is not allowed. Many communities have adopted local ordinances to ban or restrict open burning. Contact your local fire department, city, or county government officials for information about local rules. (See Air Compliance and Enforcement.)
• Open Dumping [PDF]:
  • Discarding trash or unwanted items anywhere except recycling centers or state permitted landfills, transfer stations, or incinerators is considered open dumping and is illegal. IDEM’s complaint coordinator documents open dumping complaints and staff work with local law enforcement officers to investigate and prosecute offenders. See IDEM’s Prevent Illegal Open Dumping fact sheet (available on the IDEM Fact Sheets page).
• Outdoor Hydronic Heaters:
  • Outdoor hydronic heaters (also called outdoor wood boilers or outdoor wood furnaces) are free-standing wood-burning appliances that heat water, which is then pumped to one or more structures to provide heat. Staff respond to complaints concerning smoke and improper unit construction or operation. (See Air Compliance and Enforcement)
• Restricted Waste Landfill Inspections:
  • Industrial Waste Compliance Section staff inspect restricted waste sites to check for compliance with the Solid Waste Land Disposal Facilities rule and the facility’s permit. Restricted waste sites are landfills that accept waste from specific industries. The sites are privately held disposal facilities that are mostly owned by foundries, coal-fired utilities, cement kilns, steel mills, or aluminum smelters. For more information, contact the Office of Land Quality.
• Septage Permitting and Reporting:
  • IDEM oversees the requirements for the removal, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal of septage from sewage disposal systems. To prevent threats to human health or the environment, septage must be managed according to laws in the Indiana Code (IC 13-18-12) and rules in the Indiana Administrative Code (327 IAC 7.1 [PDF]). Persons who remove septage from sewage disposal systems and transport, store, treat, and/or dispose of septage (including land application) must obtain a septage management permit from IDEM before they begin operations. They also must comply with other applicable requirements in 327 IAC 7.1. Persons with land application site permits must complete and submit to IDEM a Septage Land Application Quarterly Report (State Form 50397, available on the IDEM Forms page) for each approved site by the end of the month following each quarter. IDEM’s Septage Permitting and Reporting staff can provide more information or conduct a pre- or post-application meeting to discuss land application and/or septage regulations.
• Solid Waste Compliance:
  • Staff provide compliance assistance and conduct inspections at solid waste land disposal facilities (i.e., municipal/nonmunicipal solid waste landfills and construction/demolition sites), transfer stations and solid waste processing facilities, collection container systems, compost sites, septage haulers, and septage land application sites. Staff also respond to complaints about residential open dumping.
• Solid Waste Legitimate Use Approvals:
  • Industrial Waste Compliance Section staff issue written approvals for use of a solid waste that is “legitimate” and “does not pose a threat to public health or the environment.” IDEM cannot approve general filling or other disposal practices as a legitimate use. Examples of wastes and approved uses include shingles in hot mix asphalt; mixed foundry waste as structural fill; contaminated soil as construction/structural fill; and engineered wood in animal bedding. Some statutes allow for use of foundry sand, coal ash, or iron and steel slag without further IDEM approval.
• Solid Waste Permits:
  • Staff review applications for solid waste permits and registrations. Based on their review, they can issue permit and registration approvals containing construction and operation requirements protective of Indiana’s human health and environment, or they can deny these applications if they are found incomplete or technically inadequate.
• Solid Waste Solidifier Compliance:
  • Industrial Waste Compliance Section staff help owners and operators of solid waste solidifiers understand their regulatory responsibilities. Staff inspect solid waste solidifiers to ensure compliance with the facility permit and general environmental regulations. Solid waste solidifiers receive processing facility permits under the Solid Waste Processing Facilities rule to take wastes with free liquids that cannot be directly landfilled. Some landfills can also solidify waste under their landfill permit. Those activities are inspected by the Solid Waste Inspection Section.
• Underground Storage Tanks Closure:
  • Staff oversee three types of underground storage tank system closures: removal, in-place closure, and change-in-service. They review and provide a written response to the Thirty (30) Day Notification of Intent to Close (State Form 56553) and the Underground Storage Tank Systems Closure Report (State Form 56554), which owners/operators must submit. Staff also review the environmental site assessment of soil and groundwater, which is required for all UST system closures.
• Underground Storage Tanks Compliance:
  • Staff work with owners or operators of gas stations and businesses with underground petroleum storage tanks to make sure the systems are functioning properly, not leaking product, and meeting all state and federal laws and rules.
    • Underground Storage Tanks Compliance Inspectors:
      • Staff conduct on-site inspections of regulated underground storage tanks and evaluate compliance.
    • Underground Storage Tanks Compliance Managers:
      • Staff request and evaluate underground storage tank compliance documentation from the owners or operators of regulated underground storage tanks throughout the inspection process. This work is performed in the office, but failure of an owner or operator to respond can result in additional inspection violations.
• Underground Storage Tanks, Leaking:
  • Staff oversee the environmental investigation of soil and groundwater contaminated by underground storage tank systems and any corrective action required to remedy actual or potential impacts for reaching receptors.
• Underground Storage Tanks Financial Responsibility:
  • Financial responsibility for regulated underground storage tank (UST) facilities is the demonstrated capability to pay for remediating potential damage to the environment, or compensating third parties for the costs of damages. Federal and state laws and rules require the owner or operator of a regulated petroleum UST to obtain financial assurance. Owners or operators who cannot prove that they have the required financial responsibility may be subject to an enforcement action and penalties.
• Underground Storage Tanks Notifications and Fees:
  • Staff process records for regulated underground storage tank (UST) systems to ensure they are registered with IDEM. Owners or operators of regulated USTs must complete and submit a Notification for Underground Storage Tank Systems (State Form 45223, available on the IDEM Forms page) within 30 days of the date on which a UST system has been brought into service, acquired by a new owner, upgraded, repaired, temporarily closed, undergoes a change-in-service, or is permanently closed. Owners or operators must provide information on the tank's ownership, size, type, location, age, uses, construction, installation, external and internal protection, piping, and release detection methods. Any person who sells a tank intended to be used as a UST must notify the purchaser of these notification obligations.
• Underground Storage Tanks Operator Training:
  • Staff work with Indiana’s underground storage tank (UST) facilities to ensure they have Class A, B, and C operators for various responsibilities of system operations. Operators must be certified in different aspects of system maintenance and operations. The Office of Land Quality provides the required training and certification program for free through the Regulatory Services Portal. Please review the UST Operator Training Quick Start Guide [PDF] for more information.
• Waste Classification:
  • Industrial Waste Compliance Section staff issue waste classifications to industrial waste generators for several reasons. The most common reason of issuance is for disposal in a restricted waste site (RWS) landfill. Waste classifications are also issued in some cases for legitimate use purposes. Foundry sands with a type III waste classification can be used under Indiana statute without any further approval. IDEM issues waste classifications based on testing and other information that the generator submits.
• Waste Tire Compliance:
  • Industrial Waste Compliance Section staff help owners and operators of waste tire operations understand their regulatory responsibilities. Staff conduct inspections at various facilities to ensure waste tires are transported, processed, and stored in a manner that will prevent environmental and health issues. Indiana law requires owners or operators of businesses that transport, process, or store waste tires to obtain an IDEM registration and comply with operating, reporting, and closure requirements. Tires can trap rainwater and become breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and rodents. Tire piles can also be a fire hazard, and tire fires are very difficult to extinguish. They release toxic gases into the air and leave behind an oily residue that can pollute streams and groundwater.
• Wastewater Compliance:
  • Staff assure facility compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits and the Clean Water Act at wastewater processing facilities. Staff also assist operators with proper maintenance, operation techniques, and respond to complaints about wastewater pollution.
• Wastewater Permits:
  • Staff review applications and create permits for sources that discharge wastewater to a stream, lake, or other waterbody, such as municipalities, manufacturing industries, and treatment plants. These permits place limits on the amount of pollutants that may be discharged to Indiana waters. These limits are set at levels protective of both aquatic life and human health.
• Water Quality Certification:
  • IDEM regulates activities in lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands to ensure that those activities maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of these waters. Federal permits or licenses are required to conduct many of these types of operations, including building and operating hydroelectric dams, discharging wastewater, altering flow paths, and placing fill materials into wetlands and waterways. When a project is planned in Indiana that will impact a wetland, stream, river, lake, or other water of the U.S., the applicant must obtain a Section 401 Water Quality Certification from IDEM. This certification is a required component of a federal permit and must be issued before a federal permit or license can be granted. Issuance of a Section 401 Water Quality Certification means IDEM anticipates the applicant's project will comply with state water quality standards and other aquatic resource protection requirements under IDEM's authority.
• Watershed Specialist:
  • Staff are responsible for coordinating, advising, and assisting local watershed management activities. Staff work closely with watershed groups throughout the planning and implementation process and serve all groups in the state.
• Wetlands and Stream Impacts:
  • Staff administer permits for projects that impact Indiana wetlands and streams. Staff review project applications, issue permits and authorizations, conduct compliance inspections, and investigate complaints. Please direct questions about the status of an application and/or permit to the regional project manager for the proposed or occurring activity.

For assistance with an environmental concern or problem, please contact the IDEM complaint coordinator.