the power of the net---"BP backed down -- we did it! "

[madrchsod]

"In just a few weeks, over 60,000 members of the Dick Durbin online community stood up for the Great Lakes by urging BP to stop plans to dump more toxic chemicals into Lake Michigan....

Truth be told, when I first wrote you about BP's alarming plans, I never expected such a tremendous response. I've truly been overwhelmed by the response from the over 60,000 participants in our online effort -- ordinary individuals who shared our concern for Lake Michigan.


On Thursday, CEO Bob Malone announced that BP was reversing its decision to increase dumping in Lake Michigan."

what more can be said....we won this round against a major corporation....there will be others.

[drm604]

1. K&R

Good Job! :applause:

[Purveyor]

2. Way f'n awesome! Good job done. K&R

[truedelphi]

3. What toxins in particular were gonna be dumped??

Just curious to know - you already have my Rec.

[Gregorian]

5. Mercury, if I recall.

I admit to not paying as much attention as I should have.

[Robbien]

9. They have an permit to increase ammonia dump to 1584 pounds daily

and also dump daily 4925 pounds of suspended solids.

[izzybeans]

4. Won a PR battle. But their decision is not legally binding, even if it was, how do

do you get Mr. Mitch Daniels in Indiana to enforce it? he's already trimmed the regulatory wing of the state government there. He wasn't bush's budget director for nothing.

[Robbien]

10. Illinois is also getting into the fight (hey it is our drinking water too)

We Illinois tree huggers and Indiana tree huggers are going after BP to have them formalize their pledge by getting a revision of their permit going back to their old pollution levels.

Ha! Illinois is also going after BP about its air pollution. BP is polluting twice as much as they are permitted, so Illinois is taking them to court.

Take that Mitch Daniels.

[kestrel91316]

6. Maybe I'm just a jaded old cynic, but does anybody else think

that BP will probably just turn around and dump to their heart's content, laughing about how they fooled us all?

[Robbien]

11. Well, there are a few people other than Daniels and the EPA watching

In my post above I cited what tree huggers and Illinois legislators are doing. Then there is this new article

Judge Will Hear Case Against BP Lake Michigan Pollution Permit

CHICAGO, Illinois, August 24, 2007 (ENS) - A judge has agreed to hear a petition by the Alliance for the Great Lakes challenging water pollution discharge permit issued by the state of Indiana that allows fuel giant BP to release more pollution into Lake Michigan from its refinery at Whiting, Indiana, near Chicago.

The judge’s decision to set a hearing for October 30 came earlier this week, days before BP announced Thursday that the company will adhere to its previous pollution limits rather than take advantage of the new, higher allowances afforded by Indiana regulators

This decision means that the Alliance can make its case that an appeal of BP’s permit should be allowed despite the expiration of the pre-established appeal period.

Filed August 15 with Indiana's Office of Environmental Adjudication, the petition questions the state's handling of the discharge permit it granted BP to expand its Whiting, refinery. It seeks both a stay of the permit and a re-opening of the public appeal process.

While he is pleased with BP’s announcement that it will not increase discharges into the lake, Alliance President Cameron Davis said the Alliance will continue its legal challenge to ensure that commitment is locked into place.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-24-093.asp

So BP doesn't just get to make a pledge hoping we will all go away and they can do anything they want in peace. They may have bought out Mitch Daniels, but there are quite a few other players still watching.

[Mind_your_head]

7. Do you have a link for the original story? I think I remember, but am not sure

(and for those who aren't familiar, it would be very useful).

Peace,
M_Y_H

P.S. Also, do you have a link to the press release from BP (or something/someone with any credulity intact) that mentions/announces this 'reversal'. Thanks.

[ramapo]

8. Nice job...

It is always heartening to hear of some small success.

I did notice that BP said only that they would not increase dumping toxins into Lake Michigan, not stop dumping.

[MasonJar]

12. Congratulations! Keep up the good work.