Indiana to continue to allow BP to pollute Lake Michigan with mercury.

[Yooperman]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Faced with public outrage and congressional pressure, the oil company BP vowed six years ago to develop cutting-edge technology that could sharply reduce toxic mercury discharged into Lake Michigan by its massive refinery about 20 miles southeast of downtown Chicago.

The proposed new permit would allow that special exemption to continue indefinitely.

Read more: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-23/news/ct-met-bp-mercury-20130623_1_bp-refinery-whiting-refinery-oil-company-bp

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We have to end catering to these greedy corporations! My God what is wrong with these people. The Great Lakes need more protections to preserve this one of a kind natural resource for generations to come.

Fuck you BP.... you have had over 6 years to fix the problem and you just don't care ...and to you Indiana legislators - you have the smallest percentage of Lake Shore and then you just allow these corporations to pollute. Shame on you...

YM

[Indyfan53]

1. Both BP and the Indiana State Legislature deserve blame.

[think]

2. Corporate CEOs should drink the waters they create....

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. NOTHER BOUGHT STATE

[Moostache]

4. I grew up on those shores.

I am so filled with rage over this bullshit that I can hardly see straight.
The lakeshore is a treasure and the southern shores of Lake Michigan had (past tense) the best fresh water beaches in North America in my opinion. The waters would warm into the low 70's in August and the shores along stretches where I grew up had white sand beaches and also featured Coho Salmon and Lake Perch fishing.

The pollution allowed into the lake from both the refineries in Indiana and Cook nuclear plant threatening the lake's very viable existence in Michigan and the Zebra Mussel infestation that resulted in clearer water at a terrible price to the lake's overall ecology.

I hate corporate greed almost as much as I hate the people who profit from it and blithely turn a blind eye to the collateral damage they cause. The federal government should have jurisdiction in all cases where inequitable impact affects the natural resources of the country - such as Indiana allowing pollution to the entire lake while holding the smallest shoreline.

[Yooperman]

6. I certainly understand your outrage...

Being born and raised in the U.P. of Michigan and being an avid fisherman.... I understand there has to be a ZERO tolerance attitude for polluters if we hope to preserve this natural resource. We have iron mines here... they couldn't mine the iron until they figured out how to deal with the toxic waste and not allow it to enter the Great Lakes. Was it easy...hell no... but they figured out a way. The same has to be the case with oil refineries. NO EXCEPTIONS!

I went hiking last weekend along the shores of Lake Superior and no matter how many times I am on the shore I am in awe of this amazing Lake. However, it is the same with any of the Great Lakes.... it's too bad if there are a few people that might lose their jobs ... I really don't care... if you can't run a company without polluting the water... then you can't run that company near water..especially if it is part of the Great Lake watershed.

YM

[TRoN33]

5. There are legal implications with this one...

Because both Michigan and Illinois can slap the fines on BP because they are obviously owns the higher percentage of coastlines on that lake. Indiana obviously doesn't give any shit about that lake and allowed the foreigner company to purposefully ruined mid-west states' and Canada's source of water.

Fuck you, British Predator!

[Yooperman]

7. Yep.... I agree

Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin should be doing everything they can to stop this madness.

BTW... Welcome to the D.U.

YM

[plantwomyn]

8. There are people here in Northwest Indiana that vote blue.

I live within 5 miles of the lake and most of my clients have homes on or near the lake. The House's loss of Mark Pence was our "gain", as if Daniels was bad enough. We're screwed and have no voice at all here. I may be sounding a tad down since my elation from the DOMA ruling deflated the moment I came down to earth and realized I was still in freaking Indiana. They gerrymandered the districts to the point were a rep like Walorski was practically given a set in the House. I am holding my breath to keep the stink of this place out. I can't get to CA soon enough.

[Yooperman]

12. Thanks plantwomyn!

I can understand your frustrations living in the land of the damned. Keep the fire burning and know you are on the right side of the fence even though those around you think otherwise. Hopefully they will see the light before it is too late.

Peace

YM

[SunSeeker]

9. BP is a corporate criminal in so many ways. They are the slime of the slime. nt

[grilled onions]

10. and the political cartoon would be...

the great Lake complete with thermometers bobbing in the waves and each one would have the initials BP.

[LittleGirl]

11. *shakes fist* @ BP and red state IN

I'm a native by birth and I don't even claim it anymore. Disgusting! what they have done to that state and my favorite of all Lakes, Lake Michigan. Not Michigan lake, it's Lake Michigan. What a breathtaking coastline for freaking miles and miles.

I think the lake is cleaner than it's ever been. I remember going to Silver Beach in St. Joseph MI in the mid-60s and it had 4 inches of dead fish on the shoreline. The tide kept bringing in more and more dead fish. I think that's when the town people said, "Wait a Minute! Those dead fish stink to high heaven. Who killed the fish?"

The zebra muscles have cleared the water and you can sometimes see all of the way to the bottom of the Lake. It's a sight that blue deep water. I've only been out in the middle of the lake once but it was something I will never forget. Lake Michigan.

I will be there again on Monday too. I can't wait to see the Lake again. It's part of me.

We ALL have to save it.

[Yooperman]

13. Great post Little Girl...

I too love these stunning Lakes. I lived outside of Grand Rapids for 12 years and regularly drove to Lake Michigan to experience all it had to offer.

The 60s should have taught all of us what pollution can do to these fragile lakes. Lake Erie was the worst and through diligent efforts by all the states surrounding this watershed ... ALL the lakes improved dramatically from pollution. But it took decades!!

Now we have to keep them this way....

Enjoy your time on the water... Be safe!

Peace

YM

[LittleGirl]

16. Peace to you as well

my friend. Be safe.

[sakabatou]

14. BP should be barred from now on. Anything they touch turns to shit

[blkmusclmachine]

15. Corporate States of America

[Enthusiast]

17. Best post award.

[Yooperman]

18. Agreed...

Corporate States of America... damn... that is much more accurate than ''United" for in my opinion we certainly are not United anymore.