MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Environmentalists want to know what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to do about the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s recent move to revamp its rules for enforcement.

A coalition of environmental groups including the Hoosier Environmental Council, the Sierra Club and others sent a letter to the EPA on Friday requesting the agency’s opinion on IDEM’s proposed changes, which include dissolving its enforcement office.

The groups are particularly concerned about a proposal that assistant commissioners must sign off on enforcement for action be taken.

IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly said after a meeting with EPA in mid-February that IDEM believes the policy fully complies with all laws, rules and regulations.

EPA spokeswoman Karen Thompson says that agency is still considering its response.

Posted 4/6/2009