Indiana has decided to allow BP to increase wastewater discharges into Lake Michigan from its Whiting refinery.
Under public pressure, BP has said it would not release the 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more suspended solids into Lake Michigan that the permit allows. BP has said it may scrap its expansion plans if it can't find a way to move forward without increasing discharges into Lake Michigan.
Barnes said the state has two conflicting laws, one that applies to "outstanding state resource waters" such as Lake Michigan and another that applies to "high-quality" waters.
The law that applies to high-quality waters requires an applicant to conduct an analysis that shows how water quality would be worsened under an expanded permit. But the law that applies to Lake Michigan did not require such an analysis, and therefore BP did not have to provide one.
"By modifying the regulations to address the shortcomings that I identified, Indiana can readily provide a more transparent process," Barnes wrote in his report.
He also determined that increases in suspended solids and ammonia allowed under the permit would not present environmental hazards.
The increase in ammonia, he said, would be equivalent to a single drop into a pint of water. Barnes said the suspended solids -- or small particles left over after wastewater is treated -- would be the equivalent of 10 grains of sand in a pint glass.
Comments:
With limits on Ammonia as low as 5ppm one drop in a pint might do it? I am not sure what kind of "solids" they are referring to, but it is a heavy metal ten grains in a pint may also EXCEED discharge regulations... While the general public may not understand ppm's, regulators should.
I would like to see him drink a pint of water with a drop of pure Ammonia and 10 grains of poo solids - My guess is he would not.
