The group will also watch what the state intends to do with its surplus this year.
A Wayne County farm manager has started a campaign to limit the agency’s ability to regulate drains on private property — including making sure anything blocking a drain in a floodway is removed.
Maloney feels the need to remove the DNR’s floodway permitting program is unfounded because while some agricultural drainage projects do require a permit, others can be granted an exemption.
Maloney said two bills that would regulate how coal ash can be disposed of were introduced in this past legislative session and will likely be brought up again.
The HEC opposed an amendment to a state pilot program that would have prevented Wabash Valley Resources, LLC in Terre Haute from getting sued if its plans to put carbon emissions underground goes awry.
Maloney said the HEC supports affordable wastewater infrastructure upgrades — which can improve water quality as well as give Hoosiers a better quality of life.
These regional groups address water issues throughout an entire river basin — things like flood control, soil and water conservation, water quality, and how water resources are managed.