House Urges Reconsideration of Whiting Permit
by AFX News Limited
July 26, 2007
The House voted Wednesday to urge Indiana to reconsider its approval of a permit allowing an expanded BP Amoco refinery to
dump more pollutants into Lake Michigan.
The resolution passed 387-26 on a roll call vote.
"This Congress will not simply stand by while our Great Lakes are treated
like a dumping zone," said Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the House
Democratic Conference and the bill's chief sponsor.
All of Illinois' 19 House members voted in favor of the measure except
Peoria Republican Ray Lahood, who was absent.
Indiana's nine-member delegation was divided along partisan lines on what
was generally a bipartisan vote. Four Democrats backed the resolution--one,
Julie Carson, who was a sponsor, did not vote. The four Republicans opposed it.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued a permit
allowing BP to increase its daily dumping of ammonia and silt into Lake Michigan
as part of the company's plan to expand its Whiting, Ind., refinery. Officials
have said the amount still would fall within federal guidelines.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican and former Bush administration
official, defended the permit, saying it was in compliance with state law.
"We've got thousands of jobs that would be at risk if it doesn't move
forward," he said.
Daniels added that the plant's increased capacity, projected to be 15
percent more by 2011, could help lower gas prices and thus help drivers in both
Indiana and Illinois.
"I don't think it should be held up without a good scientific reason--and
none has been provided," he said.
Great Lakes-area lawmakers had voiced concerns Tuesday about what more
ammonia and silt would mean for a major source of drinking water.
Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk, from Chicago's affluent northwest suburbs, accused
fellow Republican Daniels of having made a "big mistake" and said the Indiana
Environmental Protection Agency failed in its duty.
Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., argued in Indiana's defense, saying the state had
coordinated with the U.S. EPA to ensure federal clean-water requirements were
met.
"We must have clean water and clean air, but if we are going to have a
political reaction without the hearings, without the information, we shouldn't
make these kinds of decisions on the floor of the House," he said.
BP officials told Illinois lawmakers after a Tuesday meeting at the Capitol
that they would meet with them again in September after reviewing their
expansion plan further for possible ways for dealing with environmental
concerns.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said state officials would consider legal
action if Indiana doesn't rescind the permit.
Copyright 2007 AFX News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
