Petition: BP air permit hurts poor, minorities

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BY CHRISTINE KRALY
ckraly@nwitimes.com
219.662.5335 | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 | (32 comment(s))

INDIANAPOLIS | Two groups claiming a breach of environmental justice have called for a stop to BP Whiting Refinery's $3.8 billion expansion, according to the first appeal of BP's controversial air permit.

The Hammond-based Calumet Project and the Global Community Monitor faxed a petition for administrative review Saturday to the Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication. The petition asks that expansion of the Whiting plant be halted to ensure the permit meets state and federal rules.

The groups argue the permit does not adequately protect low-income and minority residents from pollution.

A BP spokeswoman responded Monday that the company's permit has followed the letter of the law.

"Our air construction permit is valid," BP spokeswoman Valerie Corr said. "The permit underwent a thorough and rigorous review, and we believe it will stand up to scrutiny."

The Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication has deemed the petition against BP's permit incomplete because the actual permit was not attached as required.

The office -- whose environmental law judges review Indiana Department of Environmental Management decisions -- is awaiting the arrival of the hard copy to take any action.

The faxed petition requests a temporary stay, meaning BP may have to shutter construction of the expansion project should a judge grant the delay, environmental law Judge Mary Davidsen has said.

The complaint alleges the Indiana Department of Environmental Management did not allow the public ample time to review the permit and states that the permit fails to protect nearby poor and minority residents. The petition claims the permit "illegally limited the public participation" by reducing the comment period by 12 days.

IDEM spokesman Robert Elstro responded, "IDEM, working very closely with U.S. EPA, firmly believes the final BP source modification air permit meets all applicable state and federal requirements."

A similar complaint has been filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, based on the federal agency's charge of ensuring environmental justice in its decisions, the petition notes.

BP began its expansion May 1, the day it received IDEM approval of its air permit construction.

The permit lets the refinery build or modify equipment, but environmentalists say it allows too many greenhouse gases and too little control of flare emissions.

Though such cases are rare, Davidsen said if an appeal is successful, BP could be forced to rip down what it has built.

In addition to the Calumet Project and the Global Community Monitor, other groups have expressed an interest in contesting BP's permit, including the Michigan City-based Save the Dunes Council, the Environmental Law and Policy Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Concerned residents and groups can formally petition BP's air permit until Monday.

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Jim wrote on May 16, 2008 7:17 PM:

" One of the most incredible things I have heard since the "BP" controversy started last year. It is no wonder that industry is leaving the area.... By the way, that has impacted low incomers, minorities and the general population of NWI for years. Do we really want to make it so hard to do business here. The facts do not warrant such idiotic perspectives I've heard yet! "

Right you are Sam wrote on May 13, 2008 7:40 PM:

" Right you are Sam, we'll all sell beach accessories and run fishing charters. HELLO! SIX months of the year the lakefront is virtually UNINHABITABLE unless you're an nature nut environmentalist with a death wish. We are and shall remain an industrial region. Get a handle on reality dude. "

Brian wrote on May 13, 2008 5:11 PM:

" If these hippies screw up my employment I will kill a baby seal! "

Sam wrote on May 13, 2008 2:53 PM:

" Maybe this is a good time for our region to get away from industrial jobs and take advantage of other assets like our beautiful lake shore. "

informed one wrote on May 13, 2008 2:17 PM:

" What everyone doesn't seem to realize is, that BP is expanding in effort to explore other means of obtaining crude..such as Canadian crude, in an effort to reduce our dependency on middle eastern countries and to, hopefully, reduce the consumer's cost of gas. Or does the $4.00 a gallon not bother you...and NO pollution is unreasonable and your comments can't be taken seriously if you insist on being unreasonable. "

to G Davis wrote on May 13, 2008 1:36 PM:

" Please reread what I wrote to you earlier. I did not say that BP makes property values higher. What I did say is that BP provides jobs....good jobs. This is how people support their families, their way of life, this is how they pay their mortgage. If there are no jobs then this leads to no money which leads to foreclosures which leads to lower property values. I guess white collar does not necessarily mean educated. Not only do you not know what you are talking about but you obviously cannot figure out what others are trying to say either. "

question to Madharper wrote on May 13, 2008 1:26 PM:

" Last time I checked BP (aka Amoco, aka Standard Oil) has been around for over 100 years. I can pretty well assume that they have been here way before you ever moved here. When you buy anywhere near a refinery you have to expect some odor, noise, excess dirt, etc. When is everyone going to start taking accountability for their own actions. BP is within the enviromental legal limits. If that still does not make you happy....MOVE. "

G Davis wrote on May 13, 2008 1:18 PM:

" So BP refinery makes the property values higher? what to be poisoned?Sounds like somebody else needs an education,and no I didn't try to work there that sounds like work and too dirty for me.I'm strictly white collar! "

all for the expansion wrote on May 13, 2008 1:00 PM:

" G Davis - it sounds like you are a little bitter about not getting a job at BP. BP has one of the fairest hiring standards I have ever seen. You first have to apply online and your application has to be chosen by a computer (which is a very fair, unbiased, Non-discriminatory way of being chosen) before you can even qualify for a job interview.

Second - yes, it will affect you directly if BP moves or closes its refinery. Even though you may not be qualified to work at BP I am sure you know someone who lives in your neighborhood that does work at BP (I mean in this area - who doesn't). If BP closes your neighbor will not be able to afford his or her home than they run the chance of going into foreclose. Your property value will then decrease because of the foreclosure in your neighborhood. This would just be the tip of the iceburg. "

Deb wrote on May 13, 2008 12:57 PM:

" G Davis you have your facts wrong-My husband was been working there for 2 yrs now. And he did not know anyone at BP--did they not offer you a job or did you just ear you can't get in- Try applying for a job you might be surprised- but word of warning it does that a few interviews before they will hire you, it took my husband 2 different interviews and almost 2 years to get hired.
And PEOPLE let them have their permits they are improving the area! If you remember how it smelled 10 year ago!
"

Homer Simpson wrote on May 13, 2008 12:57 PM:

" Hey Morons, the reason the expansion project is 3 billion dollars is because they are installing equipment to clean up the crude from Canada, DUH... so they can process it to run cleaner in our vehicles, DUH, per the EPA, DUH Goverment....... "

Intellgence wrote on May 13, 2008 12:53 PM:

" Meets the Requirements huh???? BARE MINIMUM I BET!! ANYTHING TO SAVE MONEY!! TRUST ME, THEY MET THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT I GUARANTEE THE BARE MINIMUM!! NO DOUBT IN MY MIND! PEOPLE, THAT IS HOW THE WORLD WORKS TODAY.

HEY TIMES, YOU LEFT THAT PART OUT, "BARE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS" "

Madharper wrote on May 13, 2008 12:48 PM:

" I wake up every morning and judge by the smell inside the house if it is a bad oder day from the BP plant. I live on White Oak Ave. and this is a problem we all have even without opening a single window. The city seems powerless to do anything about our quality of life and our health. I encourage everyone to do your best to purchase alternative fuel vehicles or make them yourself and show this company we no longer need them killing us slowly. "

Michelle wrote on May 13, 2008 12:19 PM:

" Sounds like the environmentalists want money. "

To G Davis wrote on May 13, 2008 12:17 PM:

" You sound a little bitter. You must have been turned done for a job there! "

all for the expansion wrote on May 13, 2008 11:56 AM:

" Sounds like G Davis is bitter because he/she did not get hired at BP. BP has one of the fairest, nondiscriminatory hiring practices that I have ever seen. It does not matter if you know someone that works there already or not. To apply for a job you have to submit an application on the internet and from there canidates are chosen for on ongoing interview process.

Second - yes, it will affect the community and not just the workers at the refinery if the refinery closes. I am sure that even if you, G Davis, were not qualified to work at BP you know numerous people in your neighborhood that do work there. If the plant closes then the workers will not be able to afford their homes and this will more than likely lead to foreclosure, which in turn will lead to declining property values for the WHOLE neighborhood. So please do not comment unless you can make and EDUCATED opinoin. "

Hooray wrote on May 13, 2008 11:44 AM:

" I'm a middle-class white guy in Whiting, and this means that pollution no longer affects me, right? This is wonderful, no I can start smoking! "

G Davis wrote on May 13, 2008 10:51 AM:

" What good is having Bp produce jobs for only people who has a connection from there to work there?Rated one of the top 5 anti American companies,as well as one of the biggest polluters in the country!Since most people around here don't have a connection to get a job there who cares if they move?not me!By moving they would probably add 20 years to peoples lives.But they depend on giving people Cancer so the Rockefellers and their other Neocons can continue to make Billions off of the Hospitals and other Health care shams they own!No matter what your qualifications if you don't know anybody there you won't get in!Why is Gas a block down the street from the refinery higher than in Morroco?I won't get gas there.I would rather get gas from an Iranian oil company station than BP! "

Common Sense wrote on May 13, 2008 10:48 AM:

" Hey Wet Hen and Koolaide: I saw a comment here the other day where someone else said there should be NO pollution. The comment I saw in reply said that even your per dog isn't held to that standard. I concur. "

nasty nate wrote on May 13, 2008 10:31 AM:

" BP's expansion will not assist with gas prices. It wont even start up until 2011 if its finished on time. By then gas prices will be around $6.
All it will do is let the refinery process more heavy crude from canada. Note that this will create more pollution then processing regular crude from the middle east. "

icowboy wrote on May 13, 2008 10:15 AM:

" So the white people in the same area aren't affected by the pollution? How is the same pollution only hazardous to minorities and poor people? Aren't we all human? Get off BP and do something constructive with your time. "

IndianaEscapee wrote on May 13, 2008 9:59 AM:

" Keep up the good work BP! Don't let the Wet Hens of the world stop you. We need refining capacity now. "

mmm koolaide wrote on May 13, 2008 9:41 AM:

" this is way beyond words. Vote Obama and close down all refineries. We need change for better, not status quo. We should not only stand against new pollutants, we should demand that all pollution be stopped. Not one more drop. Close them all down, now. And the steel mills too! Not just for us, but for our children. "

Give me a Break wrote on May 13, 2008 9:39 AM:

" What next !! Get off the race issue--you're making fools of yourselves ! "

Nick wrote on May 13, 2008 9:14 AM:

" So what if they signed a petition? It only means something if the media reports it, that's where the power is, in giving BP bad press. How is this news? "

george wrote on May 13, 2008 9:05 AM:

" The environmentalists can't get their own way based on the facts, so now they try to play the race card. "

What wrote on May 13, 2008 9:02 AM:

" That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I guess these groups have run out of legitimate reasons to complain. "

UR KIDDIN ME wrote on May 13, 2008 8:19 AM:

" I cant beleive yet another insignificant group is trying to halt this project in our area. This project will bring much needed jobs and aid in gas prices and gas availability in our community. BP has been a very good neighbor to this area has never done anything to hurt us. BP is a green company and is more environmentally friendly than any city or town in the entire area to the air or the water ways. I beleive the courts should turn there attention towards your group and check the validaty of you, do you do any good for us, are you worth being heard? Who funds your group? Let us know so we can give them unnecessary crap and try to dirty up their names. Instead of pointing fingers at everyone else, step up and have your group actually physically do something to help the environment. Any knucklehead can can point out a problem, be part of the solution. "

hooray wrote on May 13, 2008 7:43 AM:

" I am glad to see that there are some people who are brave enough to stand up to that foreign devil oil company. "

Ironic wrote on May 13, 2008 7:22 AM:

" It's ironic that this group says the BP expansion will hurt the poor. Have they thought about how many more impoverished people there will be in this area if BP gets fed up and decides not to go forward with this expansion? BP is one of the largest employers in this area! "

Wet Hen wrote on May 13, 2008 6:31 AM:

" Air and water pollution hurt EVERYBODY
If BP is spending 3.8 billion they should be able to figure out how to eliminate ALL pollution "

Gregg wrote on May 13, 2008 5:16 AM:

" You have got to be kidding. Low income and minority will be affected the most. Who is the nut that came up with that one. "

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