Coal ash contains chemicals like arsenic, which can cause cancer and heart disease. It was used as construction fill in hundreds of properties in the Town of Pines.

Eleven groups signed on to a letter to Governor Eric Holcomb on Tuesday including Just Transition Northwest Indiana, Confront the Climate Crisis and League of Women Voters.

Some lawmakers and environmental groups worry this could prevent the Indiana Department of Environmental Management from doing what's best to handle toxic coal ash in the state.

The new law lets utilities recover extra costs from complying with federal rules without having to get pre-approval first as long as the IURC approves them after the fact.

Environmental groups worry an amendment to House Bill 1623 could prevent Indiana from doing what’s best to handle its coal ash — or at the very least, create confusion.

Unlike coal ash ponds, the ash is dry when its placed into these landfills. But the group Earthjustice said the ash can still get wet when it rains or the water table rises polluting groundwater and drinking water sources.

The groups say these landfills shouldnt have been exempt from stricter coal ash rules in 2015.

Activists say NIPSCO's customers shouldnt have to pay for what they call an incomplete cleanup.

A new report said steel walls near the Michigan City coal plant aren't keeping coal ash waste from getting into Lake Michigan and Trail Creek -- and it will likely get worse over time.

The move comes a few months after the Environmental Protection Agency said the ponds werent in compliance with the federal coal ash rule.