June 9, 2009
Melinda Pruett-Jones
Executive Director
Chicago Wilderness
Patricia Cassady
Corporate Council Coordinator
Chicago Wilderness
Dear Ms. Pruett-Jones:
Again, sadly British Petroleum Whiting Refinery in northwest Indiana is in
the headlines for polluting our environment with the release of benzene, a
cancer causing chemical. One reaction to this latest violation is from 19
members of Congress calling for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to
conduct a comprehensive review of all BP permits (see below). Another
reaction is that a citizen organization representing residents living near
the BP Whiting Refinery sent a notice of intent to sue BP under EPA
guidelines. There are also four law firms that are challenging the Indiana
Department of Environmental Management's decision to approve the BP air
permit that allows Canadian tar sands to be refined at the plant.
As you know, Michelle Uting, Chicago Wilderness, brought to your attention
on October 17, 2008 that Chicago Audubon Society requested that Chicago
Wilderness remove BP, a corporate council member, from membership because BP
does not uphold the goals and mission of this regional organization.
Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council
The business community has a profound influence on the region's biological
diversity through its people, land development and management practices,
political activity, philanthropy and the shaping of public opinion. For that
reason, Chicago Wilderness formed the Corporate Council.
The Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council strives to improve the quality of
life in the region by knitting together economic goals, ecological health
standards and social values to achieve a sustainable relationship between
people and nature. See the Chicago Wilderness
Corporate Council member
list, membership
benefits,
and information on
joining
the Corporate Council.
Mission Statement
The Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council brings the resources, skills,
capabilities, and influence of its members to foster widespread awareness of
the region's biodiversity and to develop broad-based support for its
protection, restoration, and stewardship. To provide a more sustainable
urban region, members of the Council strive to promote and use best
practices in the design and management of their facilities and properties.
Michelle indicated we would hear from you, the organization's executive
director or Patricia Cassady, Corporate Council Coordinator, but we are very
disappointed that there was no response to our grave concerns.
Given the current negative BP news, we again urge Chicago Wilderness to
uphold higher standards and confront BP's membership. Since BP contributes
financially to Chicago Wilderness, it is understandable that this request
will be controversial; however, the reputation of the other organizations
that belong to CW should be considered as well. Chicago Audubon Society is a
member of CW.
Please begin the process to challenge BP's membership in Chicago Wilderness
as BP can no longer be trusted to be concerned about the condition of Lake
Michigan, wildlife, and humans living in the Calumet Region and we believe
they are failing to protect the region's biodiversity.
Sincerely,
Carolyn A. Marsh
Chicago Audubon Society
Whiting, Indiana
For Immediate Release
June 4, 2009
Kirk and Quigley to EPA: Investigate BP's Record of Pollution
19 members from the Great Lakes call for systemic review of all BP pollution
permits following Clean Air Act violations
Kirk: "BP cannot be trusted to meet federal clean air and water
requirements"
WASHINGTON - Following revelations that British Petroleum's (BP) oil
refining facility in Whiting, Ind., has violated clean air standards for
nearly six years, U.S. Representatives Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Mike Quigley
(D-Ill.) sent a letter to the U.S. EPA administrator requesting a
comprehensive review of all BP pollution discharges in the Great Lakes
basin. BP confirmed on Tuesday it exceeded Clean Air Act limits on the
release of benzene, a dangerous toxin linked to leukemia and other serious
medical conditions. Joining Congressmen Kirk and Quigley were 17 members
representing communities throughout the Great Lakes region.
"Two years ago, we scored a major victory after BP agreed to back down from
its plan to dump more ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan,"
Congressman Mark Kirk said. "This latest development further underscores
the fact that BP cannot be trusted to meet federal clean air and water
requirements. It is my hope that the EPA takes swift action to review all
of BP's pollution permits to ensure there are no other violations that have
gone unnoticed. No one argues against the need to expand production
capability at the Whiting facility, but there should be zero tolerance for
releasing deadly poisons into our air and water."
"It's easy to take for granted the air we breathe and the water we drink,
but as we all know, these lifelines can become contaminated without careful
oversight and dogged enforcement," said Congressman Mike Quigley. "Residents
who live near our Great Lakes don't deserve to be subjected to environmental
injustice, and I commend Administrator Jackson, the EPA, and the Obama
administration for making this important issue a priority."
The letter and complete cosigner list is below. A pdf is available upon
request.
June 4, 2009
Ms. Lisa Jackson
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator Jackson:
As Members of Congress representing the Great Lakes region, we are concerned
about recent reports that British Petroleum (BP) has been violating clean
air permits for as long as six years at its oil refining facility in
Whiting, Indiana. We are therefore writing to request a comprehensive
review of all ground, water and air pollution discharges at all British
Petroleum refining facilities in the Great Lakes basin.
On June 2, 2009, BP reportedly acknowledged that it discharged benzene,
linked to leukemia and other severe health problems, above federal pollution
limits for at least the past six years. Levels of benzene emitted were
approximately sixteen times the amount allowed in just the past year.
In July, 2007, the company applied to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35
percent more industrial sludge into Lake Michigan. Fortunately, a coalition
of federal, state and local leaders, environmental advocates and local
citizens prevented the first new permitted pollution of the Great Lakes in a
decade. We now understand that BP began the overhaul of this plant, without
the proper permits, and increased air pollution for over thirty months in
the southern region of the Great Lakes.
As you know, the Great Lakes are the crown jewel of our nation. They
provide drinking water, food, jobs and recreation for more than thirty
million Americans. President Obama recently included $475 million in his
Fiscal Year 2010 budget in order to restore our lakes. As we begin the
federal restoration of the Great Lakes, we should ensure that BP fully
complies with the environmental protection laws and permits.
We request that the EPA undertake a comprehensive review of each pollution
discharge at the BP facility in Whiting, Indiana and other BP facilities in
the Great Lakes region. We look forward to working with you to ensure the
continued environmental protection of the Great Lakes.
Sincerely,
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Mike Quigley (D-IL)
Daniel Lipinski (D-IL)
Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Melissa L. Bean (D-IL)
Brian Higgins (D-NY)
Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Thomas E. Petri (R-WI)
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Bobby Rush (D-IL)
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL)
Bart Stupak (D-MI)
Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI)
Fred Upton (R-MI)
Donald Manzullo (R-IL)
Candice S. Miller (R-MI)
Judy Biggert (R-IL)
Deborah Halvorson (D-IL)
