The BP Amoco Refinery in Whiting, Ind., wants to expand and increase production. In order to accomplish this goal, they have asked permission to expel greater amounts of pollutants into Lake Michigan. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management and "Our Man Mitch" gave them their blessing to pollute the drinking water of 30 million Americans.
The new permit allows the refinery to dump an additional 1,584 pounds of ammonia into Lake Michigan, daily. It also gives a nod to an extra 4,925 pounds of suspended solids, daily. Suspended solids include things like lead and metal particles.
The U.S. House of Representatives were rightly horrified at this reckless assault on the environment. Last Wednesday, the House voted on a resolution citing the importance of the Great Lakes and condemning IDEM's approval of the permit. The vote was 386 to 27 in favor of resolution. Included in the 386 favorable votes were 162 Republicans. Included in the 27 "No" votes was our own Rep. Mark Souder, who has never met a polluter he didn't like to pander to.
Hey, Mark, I have some old paint cans, old 2-cycle engine oil, and various rusty old bolts and screws taking up space in my garage. Mind if I bring them on over and dump them in your well?
