BP 'allowed' to dump more toxins into Lake Michigan

[babylonsister]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-pollute_15jul15,1,647384.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true

BP gets break on dumping in lake
Refinery expansion entices Indiana

By Michael Hawthorne
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 15, 2007

The massive BP oil refinery in Whiting, Ind., is planning to dump significantly more ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan, running counter to years of efforts to clean up the Great Lakes.

Indiana regulators exempted BP from state environmental laws to clear the way for a $3.8 billion expansion that will allow the company to refine heavier Canadian crude oil. They justified the move in part by noting the project will create 80 new jobs.

Under BP's new state water permit, the refinery -- already one of the largest polluters along the Great Lakes -- can release 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more sludge into Lake Michigan each day. Ammonia promotes algae blooms that can kill fish, while sludge is full of concentrated heavy metals.

The refinery will still meet federal water pollution guidelines. But federal and state officials acknowledge this marks the first time in years that a company has been allowed to dump more toxic waste into Lake Michigan.

more...

[Red Zelda]

1. Drop something on Indiana

[acmavm]

2. The Great Lakes are dying and an oil corporation is going to be

allowed to go on in and pull the plug. Why is not BP, who will reap all the benefits of the increased refinery capacity, made responsible for finding a safer way to dispose of its industrial waste? Because they have no other way maybe? Because they've been allowed to use our vital water ways as disposal outlets for toxic chemicals and waste since day one of their existence so they've never friggin' felt the need to devote one damn dime into finding other ways of of getting rid of their toxic waste?

80 new jobs? I'm sure that will make up for the devastation and further destruction to the area. :sarcasm:

[jimshoes]

3. 80 new jobs huh?

That would be one guy to monitor the new poison levels and 79 PR hacks to tell us that we should be thankful for all the great things BP is doing to for us.

[zabet]

4. Big Oil is not the only company that gets away with raping the environment...

See my reply to this post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x103504