LANSING – In a huge victory for the Great Lakes and the people of Michigan, State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) today announced that oil giant BP, due to legislative and public pressure, will avoid any increased pollution into Lake Michigan. The announcement by BP comes on the heels of a House resolution co-sponsored by McDowell that called on the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action on a recent permit allowing BP to increase its pollution into Lake Michigan.
"The House of Representatives and the citizens of Michigan have made their message clear: The Great Lakes must be protected," McDowell said. "The Great Lakes are vital to our economic well-being and our special way of life. Michigan's three biggest industries – manufacturing, agriculture and tourism – depend on healthy Great Lakes water. Today's decision by BP marks a victory for Michigan, but we cannot let our guard down. We must be vigilant in protecting our most precious natural resource."
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management, with approval from the EPA, issued a permit to allow the BP refinery in Whiting, Ind., to release 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more sludge into Lake Michigan.
On Thursday, BP issued a statement promising "to operate its Whiting refinery to meet the lower discharge limits contained in the refinery's previous wastewater treatment permit," and admitting that public opposition caused the company to cancel its plans to increase dumping.
"Michigan is surrounded by 20 percent of the world's freshwater, and people come from all over to swim, boat, fish and enjoy our Great Lakes," McDowell said. "We must stand up to big corporations and do everything we can to protect our most precious natural resource for generations to come."