NWI activists, residents want stronger IDEM pollution controls at Gary Works

Residents and activists in Gary, Indiana, are calling for stricter pollution controls from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regarding a proposed permit for U.S. Steel’s Gary Works. During a virtual hearing, community members testified about health concerns, including asthma and epilepsy, which they link to local air quality. The proposed permit would allow for modernization projects at the facility, but critics argue that current enforcement of environmental standards is insufficient.