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INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate Environmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing at 8 a.m. region time Feb. 24 on a proposal to replace Indiana's environmental laws with federal law.

House Bill 1143, which the Republican-controlled House approved 68-28 last month, mandates that Indiana's environmental requirements "may not be more stringent" than federal law.

Hoosier environmental groups say that proposal ignores Indiana's unique environmental concerns, which demand policies set by state lawmakers and state agencies -- not the federal government.

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, is environment committee chairman. He said the panel will hear the legislation, sponsored by state Rep. David Wolkins, R-Winona Lake, but he hasn't decided if he'll allow a committee vote to send it to the full Senate.

"I've committed to a hearing," Charbonneau said.

Similar legislation has been approved by the House in years past but always died in the Senate.

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