New BP Challenge -- Illinois & Environmentalists Fight BP Air Emissions

Just when it seemed that protests over plans by BP America to increase waste emissions into Lake Michigan had ended comes news that environmentalists and Illinois officials are challenging British Petroleum's variances and air emissions permits.

Writes Christine Kraly of the Northwest Indiana Times:

The charge comes from Illinois officials and environmental groups that Indiana regulators let the company bypass federal pollution rules. It's the second petition in the last month filed with the Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication regarding decisions made about BP's Whiting plant.

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The Illinois-based petitioners say BP didn't adequately prove it deserved an exception, granted by IDEM, to its air emissions limits of particulate matter, or small particles and liquid composed of chemicals, metals and dust.

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In its request for the variance, BP said complying with the adjusted limits would "impose an extreme hardship on BP" because compliance "is neither technically nor economically feasible."

British Petroleum BP America BP Amoco air emissions Pollution environment IDEM