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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Environment - "Groups gather to meet on BP pollution permit"

Gitte Laasby's consistently good reporting in the Gary Post-Tribune continues with this story today, combining Gov. Daniel's announcement yesterday of a study to be conducted by SPEA's James Barnes (see ILB entry here) with a follow-up to the P-T report Saturday the 11th titled "EPA willing to talk with BP, others" (see ILB entry here). Some quotes from today's story:

BP officials will meet with environmental groups, legislators and government officials Wednesday to discuss alternatives to increasing discharges of ammonia and suspended solids from the Whiting refinery into Lake Michigan.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed Monday that it will host the Chicago meeting, where various groups can present practical solutions to BP.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced Monday that he is seeking "another opinion" on whether Indiana's environmental laws are sufficient to protect Lake Michigan.

Daniels has asked the former dean of the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, James Barnes, to assess what the impact of BP's discharges will be on water quality and drinking water, and how well Indiana officials implemented state and federal laws in the case of BP. * * *

Scheduled to attend the so-called Lake Michigan Summit at EPA Region 5 headquarters in Chicago on Wednesday are U.S. Reps. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, Judy Biggert, R-Ill. and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly, Save the Dunes Council Executive Director Tom Anderson, President for the Alliance for the Great Lakes Cameron Davis, and an unknown number of BP officials.

EPA spokeswoman Anne Rowan said EPA officials intend to suggest solutions, too.

"The U.S. Great Lakes National office will be presenting some suggestions as well," Rowan said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 14, 2007 08:38 AM
Posted to Environment