Environmental Affairs

Creates a preapplication process for the approval of confined feeding operations. Provides that the department of environmental management (department) must refund a confined feeding operation application fee under certain circumstances. Provides that certain confined feeding operations do not need to use certain equipment for solid manure produced by livestock. Prohibits the department from requiring an existing confined feeding operation permit holder, who is applying to expand an operation, to update a previously approved facility or structure. Establishes certain requirements for earthen berms at manure storage facilities. Requires the department to: (1) designate an employee as the point of contact for information on confined feeding operation applications; and (2) distribute the contact information of the designated employee to all operating confined feeding operations.

Defines "decision", "PFAS chemicals", and "state prioritized PFAS chemicals". Prohibits the department of environmental management (department) from basing a decision primarily on federal risk values that have not been promulgated through federal rulemaking. Instructs the department to avoid the use of federal risk values that are at or below background concentrations in air, water, soil, or sediment. Provides that the department shall focus on state prioritized PFAS chemicals when PFAS chemicals are relevant to carrying out the department's duties.

Authorizes a town, city, or county to establish or designate an agency to act for the town, city, or county as a local air pollution control agency (agency). Requires the commissioner of the department of environmental management (department) to enter into a contract with the agency of a town, city, or county if the agency is willing to enter into the contract. Provides that a contract between the department and the agency of a town, city, or county must: (1) require the department to advise, consult, cooperate with, and provide technical assistance to the agency; (2) authorize the agency to undertake air pollution control activities on behalf of the department or initiate enforcement of ordinances of the town, city, or county; and (3) provide for the payment of fair monetary compensation for the air pollution control activities performed by the agency. Provides that: (1) the compensation paid to an agency under a contract must be at least sufficient to cover the agency's staffing and operating costs; and (2) the rate of compensation must be adjusted each year according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) or the executive board of the state department to adopt, revise, update, or repeal rules concerning residential and nonresidential onsite sewage systems. Alters who may vote on the technical review panel, the process to resolve a tie vote, and when the panel may meet. Provides that the technical review panel may not approve an ordinance concerning residential onsite sewage systems unless certain conditions are met. Voids certain ordinances. Provides that certain updates to rules concerning residential and nonresidential onsite sewage systems are subject to standard rulemaking procedures.

Provides that a unit does not have the power to adopt a law, rule, ordinance, or regulation that is more stringent than or exceeds in any manner the requirements of the department of environmental management's (IDEM) construction stormwater general permit (CSGP). Provides that if a law, rule, ordinance, or regulation is more stringent than or exceeds the CSGP, then: (1) the law, rule, ordinance, or regulation is void; and (2) the unit must continue to discharge its duties under IDEM's CSGP program. Provides that a unit or IDEM may under certain circumstances: (1) issue a written warning to a person engaging in land disturbing activities; and (2) issue a stop work order for the site. Makes conforming changes.