|
Current News
Save the Dunes News
Save the Dunes Council BP Permit Update
Posted: Sat, July 28, 2007
July 27, 2007
Dear Members and Supporters:
As you probably know by now, Save the Dunes Council has been in the midst of the effort to hold BP (British Petroleum), Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) accountable for the environmental aspects and impacts associated with British Petroleum’s expected $3 billion expansion and modernization project to process additional heavy crude oil from Canada.
Save the Dunes Council is working diligently on this issue, which offers both opportunities and challenges. Quite frankly, however, our resources are not unlimited, and any additional support that can be provided through memberships or donations would be appreciated. Please return the enclosed envelope with your donation, or use our secure website at http://www.savedunes.org/commerce/.
Save the Dunes has been at the forefront of this issue – an issue that has taken on a magnitude not seen in many, many years. We are grateful that the public has shown how much it loves Lake Michigan, a lake that we all depend on for drinking water, recreation and more. Its vitality is also intertwined very closely with the Indiana Dunes.
Now, I would like to take a few moments to update you on our progress thus far as well as plans for the near future:
Permit Review
Save the Dunes extensively reviewed the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, and provided input throughout the permitting process. We continually expressed concerns about the permit because we saw methods and variances being considered (such as BP’s intention to use mixing zones) that would not only harm the lake, but also weaken compliance.
A copy of Save the Dunes’ comments on the BP’s NPDES permit may be found on:
http://www.savedunes.org/news/index.php?uid=3602a20a526f
We are fortunate, as citizens of the United States, to have the privilege to be able to comment on such matters. However, neither BP nor IDEM has yet to incorporate Save the Dunes’ recent concerns. Please note the following:
Cumulative Damage to Lake Michigan
Some reports in the media have been misleading: this is understandable considering the complexity of the permits and the refinery production processes. Regardless, the simple fact is that any additional discharges into Lake Michigan, however lawful, will ultimately end up damaging the ecosystem of the lake. This is especially important when one takes into account other challenges facing the Great Lakes including invasive species and fish-killing viruses. We will be expressing this concern to Governor Mitch Daniels, IDEM and BP, and we encourage you to do so as well.
Air Permit
BP’s air permit, which will actually be comprised of several permits, will be up for review and public comment soon. We will keep you apprised of our progress and will certainly bring any concerns we have to your attention, and to the attention of BP and IDEM.
Beyond BP
This entire controversy has also clarified a need for a better way for the public to become involved with the permitting process. Permitting, as it is presently conducted, is inherently confusing for the public, and even within environmental groups the meaning, intent, and response mechanisms of the permitting process are sometimes baffling. We will be working with our State legislature and rulemaking bodies to address this issue.
As of July 25, 2007, BP has indicated that it is willing to take another look at potential technologies to overcome pollution impacts in the Wastewater Treatment Plant. They will report their findings back to Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois) and other lawmakers on September 1, 2007. In the meantime, we will continue to exert public pressure on Indiana officials to make sure these vital concerns are addressed.
Get Involved
One way many members have gotten involved was by signing the Save the Dunes’ on-line petition and by passing hardcopies of the petition around for individuals to sign. The outpouring of comments from around the U.S. on the lake has been tremendous, and we appreciate everyone’s response. These petitions will be sent to Governor Daniels. At the very least, we hope that we will get the message across that Lake Michigan is a natural resource that must be treasured and protected, not degraded by water and air pollution. Within the first five days, alone, more than 1,500 signatures had been collected and verified, and that number is growing every minute.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in any kind of IDEM permitting or rulemaking, you should download the document: IDEM’s Guide for Citizen Participation, which was developed by the previous administration. It can be found on the IDEM website at:
http://www.in.gov/idem/your_environment/community_involvement/publicparticipation/
Finally, be sure to check our website at: www.savedunes.org, for updates and further information on this issue. Once again, thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Susan MiHalo
President
Download this Letter (Word Doc)
« Back To News Listing
|
|
|
