The Executive’s Daily Green Briefing

August 16, 2007

EPA Wants BP To Finance Lake Michigan Cleanup

epa-wants-bp-3078.jpgInsisting that they cannot stop BP from dumping more toxic waste into Lake Michigan, federal officials are trying to persuade the oil company to finance other projects to help clean up the lake, The Chicago Tribune reports.

The move is a response to growing public outrage about a permit that allows BP to increase the amount of ammonia and suspended solids dumped into the lake by its Whiting, Ind., refinery.

The article reports that the EPA plans to offer seven alternatives for the company to consider:

  1. Finance projects that reduce pollution from other companies that discharge into the Grand Calumet River or Lake Michigan.
  2. Divert all or some of the refinery’s wastewater to nearly municipal treatment plants. The Hammond Sanitary District, East Chicago Sanitary District and Gary Sanitary District are options.
  3. Pay for sewer upgrades in neighboring towns to keep sewage and storm water out of Lake Michigan.
  4. Set aside money to filter pollution that seeps into the lake. Projects could include wetlands, shoreline restoration or storm-water retention ponds.
  5. Make additional upgrades at the refinery’s water treatment plant to reduce the amount of pollution flowing into Lake Michigan.
  6. Spend more money to dredge contaminated muck from the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal.
  7. Join Indiana to pay for other projects that remove contaminated sediment in the Grand Calumet River.

BP, which has taken out full-page newspaper advertisements and paid Internet bloggers to defend the permit, according to the Tribune, says it needs to discharge more pollution as part of a $3.8 billion expansion that will enable the Whiting refinery to process more heavy Canadian crude oil.

ADVERTISERS

Join the Discussion

Comments

This is nothing but a blackmail in the name of development where environment is being sacrificed and people made to suffer.

Today's News

COP 15 Offers Communications Opportunities

COP 15 Offers Communications Opportunities

What is the No.1 event-related global communications opportunity for your carbon messaging of the next 4 years? Here are a couple of clues… •    ... continue »

Greening the Apparel Supply Chain: Tapping the Power of Collective Leverage
Sustainability and its Impact on Brand Value
The Advertising Industry, Sustainability and the Bottom Line
Thoroughly Modernized Milton And Corporate Social Responsibility
Green Efforts Insignificant in Winning, Keeping 3PL Business

Green Efforts Insignificant in Winning, Keeping 3PL Business

The 3PL industry has made significant strides in establishing environmental responsibility as part of broader corporate visions, with companies reporting numerous internal ...

click to view full size chart »

Google Says Its Data Centers Most Efficient
Fast-Moving Eco-Friendly Consumer Goods Appeal to Many
Environmental Friendliness Not Driving PC Sales
Miller Recycles 99.9% of Packaging Waste

Miller Recycles 99.9% of Packaging Waste

The U.S. beer maker Miller has a goal of zero waste in their breweries and is currently recycling 99.9% of all packaging ...

click to view video »

Credit Crunch Could Hurt Mitsubishi’s Eco-Car Push
What’s The Price Tag For A Carbon Neutral U.S. Economy?
Interface VP Discusses Biomimicry And Design
The Bottom Line

Marketing

Office Depot Targets Eco-Conscious Consumers in Europe

COP 15 Offers Communications Opportunities

Aegis Acquires Clownfish

Emissions

Sun, Pfizer Surpass Carbon Reduction Goals

Constellation Wines Installing 1.2 Megawatt Solar System

Turbine Shortage Delays Projects

Hi-Tech

Google Says Its Data Centers Most Efficient

European Data Centers Face Energy Crisis

Environmental Friendliness Not Driving PC Sales

Efficiency

World Steel Association Publishes Sustainability Report

Wal-Mart’s Packaging Scorecard Drives Sustainability, Cuts GHG Emissions

Dairy Farmers Get Lighting Retrofit Rebate

Manufacturing

Greening the Apparel Supply Chain: Tapping the Power of Collective Leverage

ARC Offers Sustainability Strategies for Manufacturers

Sanyo’s Solar Ark: Company Shift or PR Stunt?

Carbon Offsets/RECs

USDA, DOE Unveil Plans to Accelerate Sustainable Biofuels Development

EU Votes For Tougher Carbon Laws

Aveda Installs Solar System at L.A. Distribution Facility

CSR Reports

AT&T Releases Sustainability Report

Autodesk HQ Cuts Emissions with Lighting Upgrades

Staples Saved Over 540,000 Gallons of Diesel in 2007

Major Players

Green Efforts Insignificant in Winning, Keeping 3PL Business

Critics Say Energy Star Standards Too Lax

Google Unveils $4.4 Trillion Clean Energy Plan

See All Topics »