Updated August 23, 2007

Representative Lipinski Applauds Success of Efforts
to Stop BP from Increasing Pollution in Lake Michigan
(August 23, 2007)

Responding to pressure from public officials and concerned citizens, BP made the announcement today.  In response, Congressman Lipinski issued the following statement:

"This announcement by BP that they will be environmentally responsible and not dump additional pollutants into Lake Michigan is a victory for everyone who lives around the lake. Lake Michigan is the source of drinking water for over 10 million people, including most of the Chicago area, and its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities are things all Chicagoans cherish.  We cannot afford to further pollute and destroy such an important resource.

I would like to applaud BP America's president, Bob Malone, for responding to the concerns expressed by myself and other Chicago-area representatives during our meeting with him last month. As soon as I was made aware of BP's plans I knew that we had to act to prevent this proposal from moving forward.  Although I strongly support moving away from an oil-fueled transportation system, I understand that we still have a need to build refineries.  However, this must be done in an environmentally sound manner. I am happy that BP has agreed and is living up to its pledge to be environmentally sensitive. 

However, our work to protect the Great Lakes is not finished.  As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has jurisdiction over our nation's inland waterways, I will continue to work to pass the Great Lakes Water Protection Act (H.R. 2907), which I introduced with Rep. Mark Kirk (IL-10).  This bill would establish a federal deadline to end sewage dumping in the Great Lakes and impose fines on municipalities who violate the Act.  We must not only protect the gains we have made in cleaning up the Lakes, but we must also continue to make further progress in caring for this great treasure." 

 

Congressman Lipinski addresses the House of Representatives
in support of H.Con Res. 187, a resolution expressing the sense
of Congress regarding the dumping of industrial waste into the Great Lakes (July 25, 2007)

"Through federal regulations and state and local cooperation, we have made great strides in cleaning up the Great Lakes.  Right now, we cannot step back now," stated Congressman Lipinski. "I am deeply troubled by BP's efforts to move ahead with their plan to significantly increase their dumping of ammonia and suspended solids into Lake Michigan.  All these pollutants can cause great harm to the environment and public health.  Over 40 million people in the Chicago area get their drinking water from the lake, and it is critical for tourism, recreation, and the fishing industry. We should not be doing less to protect the Great Lakes; we should be doing more, such as passing legislation I introduced along with Mark Kirk to stop municipalities from dumping waste into the lakes."

Lipinski Denounces BP Plan to Dump Pollution into Lake Michigan
Calls on EPA to Review Permit Issued by Indiana for Dumping
of Ammonia and Sludge (July 19, 2007)

Click here for text of the full press release

"I am deeply troubled by BP's plan to increase dumping of toxic materials into Lake Michigan," stated Lipinski.  "It is ironic that a company that claims to embrace environmental values is going to greatly increase the dumping of pollutants into the Great Lakes.  In the midst of another summer of record beach closings on Lake Michigan, I am asking the EPA to review Indiana's decision to grant this permit and I am strongly urging BP to reconsider their plan."

great lakes press conference
Congressman Lipinski addressing a crowd at the Shedd Aquarium
announcing the introduction of legislation to ban dumping in the Great Lakes.

Click here to view the Letter to the EPA Administrator

The Chicago Sun Times Editorial Board released the following statement in response to BP's plan to dump waste into the Great Lakes.


Chicago Suntimes Editorial: Sink BP's waste plan

Printed July 20, 2007

BP's plan to dump more waste into Lake Michigan needs to be plugged up. Even if the giant oil company proves that the extra waste it will be dumping is no threat to aquatic life or humans, we must have zero tolerance for the release of any additional pollution into our precious lake waters. Lake Michigan is a vital resource for Chicagoans -- it provides our drinking water and our beach recreation, and it inspires the soul of our city with a water border, 30 miles long. Polluting its waters affects us all.

BP recently won a permit from Indiana that will allow it to discharge 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more solid waste into the lake from its water treatment plant at its Whiting refinery. The company -- which made $22.3 billion last year -- says the higher limits will enable it to move forward with a $3 billion expansion of the refinery so it can process more Canadian heavy crude oil.

News of Indiana's action caught Chicago and Illinois officials by surprise and spurred a strong reaction. Representatives Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) said they would try to block the expansion unless it includes better pollution controls. Chicago officials, meanwhile, will be asking people along the lakefront to sign a petition this weekend demanding that Indiana reverse its decision. The city is also exploring its legal options and hiring a consultant to review the permit.

BP, and Indiana, have plenty to say in their defense. BP is spending $150 million to upgrade its water treatment plant. The oil company argues that the extra pollutants are still within the safety range set by federal and state regulators. The solid waste isn't very solid -- it is actually diluted so much that it is not visible in the treated wastewater. To further dilute the treated water, it will be released not at the shore but about 200 feet into the lake. And, the company says, the average discharges from the refinery will typically be less than that allowed by the permit.

Fine. But it's still more pollution. And we're still not convinced that BP is doing everything it can to keep it out of the lake. With all the billions it's spending on the refinery project, it's hard to believe that BP can't do more.

A greater point is that this is the first time in years that a company has been allowed to dump more pollutants of this kind into the lake. More than a hundred years ago, when the Whiting refinery was built, environmental concerns took a back seat to industry. Cleaning up the pollution in our lakes and rivers has taken decades and billions of dollars, and we still have a ways to go.

Now is no time to be going backward.

U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, a Democrat, represents Illinois' 3rd Congressional District.

© Copyright 2007 Sun-Times News Group