IDEM Celebrates 40 Years of Environmental Protection in Indiana

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is marking its 40th anniversary, commemorating four decades of safeguarding Hoosiers and the environment. Founded on July 1, 1986, IDEM was established to implement federal and state environmental regulations while supporting the responsible operation of industrial, agricultural, commercial, and governmental activities essential to a strong Indiana economy.

“In the 40 years since IDEM’s founding, Indiana has seen dramatic progress in protecting our environment and natural resources,” said Gov. Mike Braun. “Indiana is a healthier place to live, work, and raise a family. Strong stewardship has positioned Indiana as a leader in environmental health, economic opportunity, and an excellent quality of life for all who call our state home.”

When IDEM was established, Indiana unified its environmental programs under one agency, strengthening the state’s ability to address environmental challenges through consistent standards, coordinated oversight, and science based decision making. Since then, the agency has grown into a robust operation responsible for issuing air, water, and solid and hazardous waste permits; inspecting and monitoring regulated facilities; providing compliance and technical assistance; assessing statewide environmental conditions; enforcing environmental laws; and responding to spills that affect soil and water.

Hoosiers today benefit from the strongest protections for air, land, and water in state history. As environmental standards have become more stringent over the years, IDEM has worked closely with regulated entities to support compliance, improve practices, and achieve meaningful gains in environmental quality.

Of note, since 1990 IDEM has overseen a 79% reduction in criteria air pollutants including: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. The agency has also shepherded transparency making more than 4 million agency public records including permitting documents and inspection reports available for search via the Virtual File Cabinet. IDEM has also garnered national recognition for permitting efficiency ensuring businesses can move forward without unnecessary delays while ensuring citizens benefit from clean air, land, and water.

Today, Indiana leads the nation in per capita water sampling, having assessed more than 43,657 miles of rivers and streams throughout the state, promoting informed management of Indiana’s waterways and supporting long term environmental health. Just last year, Indiana was noted by the U.S. EPA for leading the nation in documented water quality improvement Success Stories.

IDEM’s Office of Land Quality works to protect communities by overseeing cleanups, regulating waste, preventing contamination from underground storage tanks, and partnering with local governments and property owners to restore formerly contaminated sites.

“This 40 year milestone is a celebration not only of the nearly 800 Hoosiers who work for our agency today, but of every person who came before us and was dedicated to ensuring responsible stewardship of our natural resources,” said IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods. “Our environment is a shared resource, and Hoosiers deserve our best effort to protect it. IDEM’s history demonstrates what is possible when science, innovation, and partnership come together for the benefit of public health and the environment.”

The 1985 Indiana General Assembly created IDEM under Title 13 of the Indiana Code. Title 13 created divisions for air and water pollution control, solid waste management, pollution prevention, administrative services, and offices to handle environmental emergencies, public communication, and investigations.

Over the decades, IDEM staff have worked every day to ensure Indiana’s air, land, and water remain protected, and on this day Gov. Mike Braun has proclaimed July 1, 2026, as a day honoring the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s 40th Anniversary.

IDEM extends its gratitude to Hoosiers across the state for their continued partnership and support in helping the agency fulfill its mission.