BP permit gets day in court of opinion

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BY CHRISTINE KRALY
ckraly@nwitimes.com
219.662.5335 | Thursday, March 13, 2008 | 7 comment(s)

A document vital to BP Whiting's proposed $3.8 billion expansion is set to go before the court of public opinion Friday.

BP's proposed air permit will be discussed at a public hearing in Hammond organized by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

BP submitted its air permit application to IDEM at the end of October, and some citizens and environmentalists argue the proposed permit has been rushed by Indiana regulators.

IDEM already has received comments on BP's permit from more than 100 individuals and groups.

Environmental activist Carolyn Marsh, a member of BP's Whiting Citizen's Advisory Committee, is among those asking IDEM for more time to review the complex permit that spells out limits for air pollution from the facility.

"Even the experts need more than 30 days. It would take more than that to figure it out," Marsh has said.

Under the proposed permit, BP would emit lower amounts of four pollutants that currently are released but would increase releases of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and lead. Exposure to sulfur dioxide can burn the nose and throat and cause breathing problems while lead exposure can damage the nervous system. Some particulate matter can gather in the lungs, potentially causing coughing, asthma and heart problems, scientists say.

BP officials attribute the proposed emission increases to heavy Canadian crude that contains more sulfur and requires more heat to refine.

Under the permit, the company would offset the spikes with credits granted in recent years through pollution-reducing investments, including those earned when the refinery adjusted heaters to burn lower sulfur fuel.

BP spokesman Scott Dean likened the credits allowed by IDEM and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to tax rebates for people who buy hybrid cars.

Even with the anticipated increases, BP officials have touted an overall emissions reduction of 7 percent under the new permit, while boosting gas production by 15 percent.

Should BP not receive an air permit this year, the refinery would have to modify its permit application, requiring it to recalculate costs and timing, Dean said.

Friday's meeting, hearing
Public meeting: 5:30 p.m., Friday -- informational session
Public hearing: 6:30 p.m., Friday -- public can share comments
Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Ave., Hammond

The public can comment on the permit until March 24. Comments can be sent to:
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
100 N. Senate Ave.
Mail Code 61-53 IGCN 1003
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251
mmoulik@idem.in.gov
IDEM will provide a response to comments with the final permit decision to people who provide their name with a valid address. For information on where to view the permit, go to www.idem.IN.gov.

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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

Steve W. wrote on Jun 12, 2008 7:42 PM:

" Kevin neglects to embrace reality. The truth is the expansion will creates thousands of jobs for those in Northwest Indiana (me included) That money alone will be pumped into our local economy.

Any pollution is entirely negligible.

I can't wait for the final permits to get passed so FLUOR can hire on the large amounts of workers Including me! "

Hey Kev wrote on Mar 14, 2008 7:33 PM:

" If you consider BP to be in your "backyard," and you are sincerely concerned about pollution (as opposed to more handouts, which it sounds like you're lobbying for), then I'd suggest you compare your backyard to that of your "neighborhood," i.e. Safety-Kleen, Mittal, Unilever, Cargill. At least BP is transparent with the issues they are facing and their approach to resolving any perceived issues in the community. "

Anonymous wrote on Mar 14, 2008 1:30 PM:

" I encourage Kevin to do a little digging and see how much $$ BP has actually given Whiting in the past for numerous things such as park upgrades and sponsorship for the Festival of the Lakes. You really think the citizens of Whiting would have lower taxes without the refinery there? Lower pollutants, more gasoline production, lower prices at the pump, how is this not a win-win? "

pipeliner wrote on Mar 13, 2008 10:51 PM:

" go to this meeting and tell BP and tell IDEM to spend the money to make that upgrade pollution free.

Tell IDEM that their first responsibility is to the public, not to polluters "

Paul wrote on Mar 13, 2008 9:49 PM:

" Well said, Kevin Moynihan! I agree with all you wrote, except the comment "What a great system we have!" sounds facetious. I believe we do have a great system. The people of the Region must open their eyes and take advantage of a free press and learn about what is going on around them. The Hammond Civic Center ought to be packed for this meeting. If not, we should blame ourselves. Also, since our U.S Representative has been silent on this subject, we have a primary election coming up in May. There is a man running on the Republican ticket for Congress, Mark Coleman, who has been relentless in his pursuit of making sure BP stays within permitted levels of all pollutants. "

James T wrote on Mar 13, 2008 9:47 PM:

" Kevin,

If you really want to see high gasoline prices, campaign against the air permit. If the permit is not approved, the refinery will be forced to either spend a lot of money to continue processing high priced crude, leading to high gas prices, or shut down, leading to even higher gas prices.

I have allergic reactions to many chemicals, but have not had a problem while driving around the Whiting refinery.

Also, air emissions from the refinery have been reduced significantly over the last several years, and will still be much lower in the new permit than what they were a few years ago. If you survived living there a few years ago, you should have no problems. The refinery has been there over 100 years - how long have you lived there?

I'm not sure what the rest of your rant is about, but I believe the City of Whiting is much better off with a competitive refinery operating there than without. If you want to see depressed cities, look at the ones that had their refinery shut down. "

Kevin Moynihan wrote on Mar 13, 2008 12:27 PM:

" It is amazing that right in my backyard this huge company has enough resources for a 3.8 billion dollar expansion, but will sit idly by as the city that it has called home for years is struggling to survive. They will continue to release pollutants that those who call this place home will continue to inhale, and for this grand gesture they will be undertaxed. Those who live and work here will struggle, some will even lose their jobs or their homes. But hey, atleast BP got it's tax break because that is what it's all about, keeping the big guy happy. Meanwhile, a school that has been nominated for the Blue Ribbon Award and recognized for its exemplary status among schools in the State of Indiana will have to focus on how it will stay open, instead of how it will continue to improve. What a great system we have! "

Northwest Indiana and Illinois Times

BP permit gets day in court of opinion

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