According to a press release provided by Braun’s team, the orders “focused on preserving our abundant natural resources while fostering growth in Indiana.”

Executive Order 25-37 states that Indiana’s environmental policies should be based on “sound science” to encourage economic growth and sustainability. It dismisses the idea of environmental justice, declaring that now decisions will protect public health without “favoring or disadvantaging any group based on race, ethnicity, or other social criteria.”

Environmental justice as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency is the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

For example, according to Indiana’s Conservation Law Center, “Communities of color and low-income populations nationwide bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards and health effects. This issue is particularly evident in Indiana cities like Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago, where predominantly Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged populations are treated as sacrifice zones and exposed to some of the country’s most polluted air and contaminated land and waterways due to the area’s extreme concentration of heavy industry.” Environmental justice initiatives would attempt to remediate this.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Braun said he was signing the order “to make it clear that Indiana would not use the concept of environmental justice in our permitting or enforcing decisions.”

“Fourteen states have environmental justice offices, and the idea is to make environmental policy based on factors other than the environment,” he said.

Executive Order 25-38 simplifies current Indiana environmental regulations, stating that all environmental policies that exceed federal requirements will be reviewed before Oct. 31. The bill notes that strict state regulations can increase the cost of goods, cause confusion, and force businesses to use additional means to comply with state regulations.

The order also mentions national standards, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and establishes Indiana’s environmental baseline with these programs. Braun addressed these sections of 25-38 at the press conference.

“Many states go further than the federal standards and create a complex web of regulations for businesses and farmers to navigate through,” he said. “Over-regulation stifles innovation and raises the cost of living. … I believe federal standards are an appropriate baseline to strike that balance.”

Hoosier National Forest

A month ago, Braun requested the immediate cancellation of a forest management plan called the Buffalo Springs Restoration Project in the Hoosier National Forest. The project in question would order the burning and logging of 20,000 acres of Indiana’s forestland, which the governor said could impact the drinking water of local communities due to harmful runoff entering nearby lakes.

TheStatehouseFile.com reported in February that Braun and many other Hoosiers are still in opposition to the plan. The governor’s letter cited legislation from Orange and Crawford counties and the town of Paoli that are averse to the project. Braun owns a $1.6 million property close by and has a listed asset of over $250,000 worth of “timber ground” in the French Lick area.

“Our own Hoosier National Forest has not been a plan, and it’s reflecting changing needs and desires for the forest,” Braun noted during the press conference. “So here, make sure that our federal forest is being used for what most people would like to see it used for, and to make sure you are not doing things that are disruptive that would impact water quality to boot.”

Indiana air quality

Indiana ranks as the fifth worst state in the U.S. for air quality. Although EO 25-38 highlights Indiana’s collaboration with the national Clean Air Act, it remains unclear how restricting certain environmental practices will contribute to improving the situation.

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, $53.4 billion was added to Indiana’s economy through manufacturing in 2023. More than 18% of Hoosiers work in the field, making Indiana second in the nation for the percentage of manufacturing workers in the workforce.

Braun addressed the state’s air quality issues.

“I think that’s largely related to the fact that we are one of the largest manufacturing states, we generate a lot of electricity for the legacy industry,” said Braun. “You can see that the demands for electricity have gone up by a significant amount. When it comes to water and air, I’m always going to be one that makes sure we improve—that’s not a statistic to be proud of.”