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How to Use IDEM’s Interactive Map & Virtual File Cabinet for Brownfield Research

Part III of the November 14, 2025, GreenRoots Initiative workshop brought a deep dive into one of the most powerful tools available to anyone working with environmental history in Indiana: IDEM’s “What’s In My Neighborhood?” Interactive Map and the Virtual File Cabinet (VFC).


The session was led by John Morris, Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator for the Indiana Brownfields Program (IBP), with support from Lori Bebinger, IBP Project Manager, who guided participants through live demonstrations and hands-on navigation of the VFC. Together, they demystified how to look up environmental records, understand contamination histories, and interpret the layers of information that can shape redevelopment decisions in Gary.


Understanding the Indiana Brownfields Program


John opened with a grounding reminder of the program’s mission:


To encourage and assist investment in brownfield redevelopment by providing free educational, financial, legal, and technical support.


Key points included:


  • The program is voluntary, not enforcement‑based.

  • Assistance is FREE for communities, nonprofits, and prospective purchasers.

  • The team works closely with Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  • They issue closure documents, liability clarification letters, and environmental restrictive covenants (ERCs) that help make redevelopment possible.


John emphasized that brownfields are not limited to abandoned factories. They include:


  • Former gas stations

  • Dry cleaners

  • Auto shops

  • Industrial sites

  • Old commercial buildings

  • Junkyards

  • Railroad properties

  • Sites with illegal dumping

  • And any property where contamination is known or suspected


In other words, the “potential presence” of contamination is enough to qualify a site for assistance.


Why the IDEM Interactive Map Matters


The IDEM map is a statewide tool that allows anyone to explore environmental activity around a specific address or neighborhood. It includes layers for:


  • Brownfield sites

  • Leaking underground storage tanks (LUST)

  • Hazardous waste corrective action sites

  • State cleanup projects

  • Voluntary remediation program (VRP) sites

  • Dry cleaner and laundry locations

  • Restricted sites with ERCs

  • Site investigations

  • Aerial imagery


For a city like Gary, where residential, commercial, and industrial uses historically sat side‑by‑side, this tool is essential for understanding environmental risk and redevelopment potential. A site does not need to be visibly contaminated to appear in the system. Many issues are underground, historical, or invisible to the eye.


How Contamination Is Classified


Using PowerPoint visuals, John walked through the major categories of contamination IDEM tracks:


Petroleum Sites

  • Common at gas stations and industrial facilities

  • Plumes are usually shorter

  • Petroleum naturally degrades over decades


Chlorinated Solvent Sites

  • Often from dry cleaners, degreasers, and plating shops

  • Plumes can travel long distances

  • Vapors can enter buildings

  • Cleanup can take decades or longer


Metals Contamination

  • From smelters, factories, and historic fill

  • Does not degrade

  • Can be spread through soil or air deposition


These distinctions matter because they determine:

  • How far contamination may have traveled

  • What risks exist for nearby homes or businesses

  • What cleanup strategies are required

  • Whether vapor intrusion is a concern


What Are Environmental Restrictive Covenants (ERCs)?


ERCs are legally recorded documents that can be found in the VFC. They outline:


  • What contamination remains

  • Where it is located

  • What land uses are allowed

  • What activities are restricted (e.g., no drinking wells, no excavation)


ERCs “run with the land,” meaning they apply to all future owners. John emphasized that an ERC does not mean a site is unsafe. It means the contamination has been addressed to a level that is safe as long as the restrictions are followed.


How to Use the Virtual File Cabinet (VFC)


One of the most practical components of the workshop was a deeper dive into the IDEM Virtual File Cabinet, presented by Lori Bebinger. Participants practiced looking up real properties submitted in advance, learning how to interpret map layers, site histories, and regulatory statuses. Researched sites included:


  • A former public transportation bus garage (22nd and Jefferson)

  • A historic dry cleaner (17th and Jefferson)

  • Other sites recommended for deeper investigation


The community-driven observations helped to build a more complete picture of environmental conditions across Gary’s neighborhoods.


The VFC, IDEM’s digital archive of environmental documents, contains:


  • Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment reports

  • Sampling data

  • Closure letters

  • Corrective action plans

  • Historical correspondence

  • Maps and site diagrams


Lori demonstrated how to:


  1. Start with the Facility Search

  2. Enter a partial address (e.g., “200” + “Gary”)

  3. Select the correct site from the results

  4. Sort documents by date

  5. Identify the Agency Interest (AI) number

  6. Use the AI number to pull up all related files across programs


This is especially important because a single property may appear in:



The “AI” number ties all of these together.


Why You Should Never Assume a Residential Lot Is “Clean”


During the Q&A, Cynthia Williams raised a critical question:


“If a site formerly had a house or apartment building, can we assume it’s safe for residential reuse?”


John’s response, a clear “No”, was supported by Brenda Scott-Henry, City of Gary Director of Sustainability & Environmental Affairs. Reasons include:


  • Older homes may have asbestos or lead paint

  • Past demolition practices used slag or industrial fill, even in residential areas

  • Vapor intrusion from nearby plumes is invisible

  • Contamination can migrate from adjacent properties (via underground aqueducts)

  • Historical records may be incomplete or missing


They shared examples where “clean” residential lots were later found to have:


  • Lead levels too high for children

  • Chlorinated solvent vapors

  • Industrial waste used as backfill


This reinforced a core message of the workshop:


Environmental history is not always visible. Much of this history is still being discovered and documented. While tools like IDEM’s map and VFC are essential for informed decision‑making, they don’t fully capture the environmental history of all sites in Gary.


A Powerful Step Toward Community‑Led Environmental Research


This workshop gave Gary residents and partners the tools to:


  • Look up environmental histories

  • Understand contamination risks

  • Interpret state records

  • Ask informed questions

  • Advocate for safe redevelopment


As our GreenRoots Initiative moves forward, these skills and tools will be essential for shaping a healthier, more transparent, and more equitable future for Gary’s neighborhoods.


How the Indiana Brownfields Program Supports Redevelopment


John closed by reminding participants that the program can provide:


  • Comfort letters (liability protection for past contamination)

  • Funding for assessments

  • Technical guidance

  • Assistance navigating IDEM programs

  • Support for safe redevelopment plans


Instead of penalizing communities, IBP helps them move forward safely and confidently.


Recommended guides include:

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