IDEM okays BP Whiting air construction permit

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By CHRISTINE KRALY
ckraly@nwitimes.com
219.662.5335 | Thursday, May 01, 2008 | 10 comment(s)

After months of hand-wringing among environmental regulators, company executives and environmentalists, Indiana has approved the much-criticized BP Whiting air construction permit.

The permit allows the refinery to construct equipment to modernize its facility, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management said Thursday.

IDEM said comments from the public and the U.S. EPA affected the final permit, adding monitoring, testing and record keeping requirements.

Several individuals and groups spoke out against the proposed air permit. Under the permit, the refinery would decrease emissions of four pollutants but would increase releases of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and lead.

Critics complained IDEM did not allow ample time to properly review BP's application. BP submitted draft construction and operations air permit applications to IDEM Oct. 31. Draft permits were released to the public Feb. 5.

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Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service

ironworkers wrote on Jun 13, 2008 3:34 PM:

" good maybe we can make gas prices lower and increase more jobs instead of letting them go to china or mexico.

UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL "

Great News wrote on May 1, 2008 6:56 PM:

" Good for BP. Creating good jobs in the region to put more money in our economy. "

SOLUTION wrote on May 1, 2008 6:51 PM:

" HOORAY! IT IS ABOUT TIME! If the environment was so bad at BP, why aren't all of the workers there getting sick? They aren't dropping like flies. I bet if BP said they were hiring 200 people tomorrow, there would be a line a half mile long trying to get in there. The environmentalist are always crying wolf to scare people. This time BP did everything right. Keep up the good work! "

unemployed CM wrote on May 1, 2008 6:01 PM:

" good, maybe we can get all these new cement masons a job now. "

Armaggedon wrote on May 1, 2008 4:33 PM:

" The End is Near . . . "

The End is Nigh... wrote on May 1, 2008 4:21 PM:

" Looks like "Our Man" has let us down again . . . "

Al Berta wrote on May 1, 2008 3:28 PM:

" "Under the permit, the refinery would decrease emissions of four pollutants but would increase releases of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and lead."

Four steps forward and three steps back must be adequate for the EPA
"

Choke wrote on May 1, 2008 3:27 PM:

" Great..
This great country has become a colony, a British company is putting more lead in our air and drinking water (what comes up, must come down)..
Eight years of Republican rule has broken down this country.. And those same clowns complain about people that DON'T wear flag pins on their suits.. "

Az Matic wrote on May 1, 2008 3:26 PM:

" IDEM cut corners and possibly broke the law to expedite this permit. By doing so, it lets BP avoid having to use the best available technology.

So it will be good for the economy but people will still be sickened by their emissions. "

DVL wrote on May 1, 2008 3:19 PM:

" Thank God, just think all the jobs they saved. Our kids won't be able to play outside, breath the air, swim or fish in Lake Michigan, but a least we didn't lose all those jobs "

Northwest Indiana and Illinois Times

IDEM okays BP Whiting air construction permit

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