Kudos to the City of Chicago for responding to Indiana's short-sighted and craven capitulation. BP shouldn't be allowed to pollute Lake Michigan, no matter how many McJobs result (BP only claims 80 jobs will be created if they are allowed to build their plant. How many of these are just internships?), several states share the water of Great Lakes, not just Indiana.
(photo of Amoco building, Amoco now has merged with BP)
City to fight BP refinery over pollution waiver | Chicago Tribune :
The City of Chicago joined the fight Wednesday to stop the BP refinery in Whiting, Ind., from dumping significantly more ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan.
City administrators said they hope to meet with BP officials next week. They've hired a consultant to review the water permit granted by Indiana regulators that will allow BP, one of the largest polluters along the Great Lakes, to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more sludge into Lake Michigan each day.
City officials also said they are exploring legal options. ... Speaking to reporters Wednesday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Kennedy-King College in Englewood, Mayor Richard Daley said increased pollution from the refinery would work against the city's long-term efforts to clean up the lake.“We are very concerned about that,” Daley said. “We protect the Great Lakes. ... That is our drinking water. That is our economic development. That is our recreation.”
Indiana officials exempted BP from state environmental laws, allowing the refinery to move forward with plans for a $3.8 billion expansion to process more heavy Canadian crude oil.
and the US EPA takes its mission of protecting citizens as seriously as the FDA does, ie, not very seriously at all.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which steps in to oversee permits and enforcement, did not object to Indiana regulators' decision in the case.
Doesn't sound like BP tried very hard to let interested parties have any input until the deal was already completed, and certain Indiana legislators got paid off (or whatever it took).
Chicago's Environment Commissioner Sadhu Johnston said neither state officials nor BP had informed Chicago officials of the refinery's plans. Instead, he said, city officials read about it in Sunday's Tribune.“They really didn't do any outreach,” he said. “Since they are expanding in this community, they should have told us of their plans and what that would do to the lake.”
Johnston said he thinks increased pollutant levels could be addressed if BP added more modern technology to the site.
....
“Whether it's sludge or particulate, either way it's a pollutant and it's going into Lake Michigan,” Johnston said.
Park staff will collect signatures for the “Save Our Lake” effort at 14 lakefront locations including beaches, Navy Pier and the Museum Campus.
...
Carolyn Marsh, a Whiting resident who appeared at the Chicago Park District news conference, said the public comment period lasted only 2 months. She said she was appointed to a citizen's committee by BP, but the refinery never mentioned any increase in ammonia or other pollutants.
previous coverage
Is BP doing something illegal?
From what i have seen.... NO.
We need more oil refineries. PERIOD.
Let BP BUILD!
BUILD BUILD BUILD...
Environmentalists have killed more people than hilter in the 20th centuries so I dont trust you whining em effers ONE freaking bit... you are deadly to the poor.. and haters of hard workers.
So take your complaining and shove it in your electric cars and shut the eff up.