Indiana wants to let US Steel pollute Lake Michigan more

[n2doc]

By Michael Hawthorne, Tribune staff reporter Tribune staff reporter Darnell Little contributed to this report
October 12, 2007


Indiana is moving to scrap, relax or omit limits on toxic chemicals and heavy metals dumped into a Lake Michigan tributary by the sprawling U.S. Steel Corp. mill in Gary, according to environmental lawyers and former federal regulators who have reviewed a proposed water permit.

Language outlining the changes is buried in 117 densely worded pages under consideration by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which provoked a public outcry this year when it gave a nearby BP refinery permission to significantly increase pollution discharged into the lake.

BP explicitly asked to dump more pollution. By contrast, Indiana regulators and U.S. Steel officials insist the latest proposal will not allow the Gary Works to increase the amount of oil, grease, metals and chemicals pumped into the Grand Calumet River before it empties into Lake Michigan.

The permit appears to tell a different story, raising questions about Indiana's enforcement of federal and state laws intended to clean up the nation's lakes and rivers.

much more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-sub_steel_12oct12,0,7381538.story

[Buzz Clik]

1. Any pressure belongs squarely on Indiana Dept of Environ. Mgmt and US EPA Region 5.

The legacy of the Bush administration is lax enforcement and loosening of the regulations. US Steel and BP were more than happy to comply.

[n2doc]

2. Update: EPA blocks Indiana Permit!

EPA letter attacks Gary's U.S. Steel mill
By Michael Hawthorne | Tribune staff reporter
1:54 PM CDT, October 12, 2007


Federal regulators vowed today to block a new permit for the U.S. Steel mill in Gary until Indiana officials ensure it cuts pollution that flows into Lake Michigan.

In response to a Tribune story about the proposal, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency released a letter outlining several objections to a new permit for the Gary Works, the largest industrial polluter in the Lake Michigan basin.

In a letter dated Oct. 1 but made public Friday, the EPA chided Indiana regulators for giving U.S. Steel another five years to limit several pollutants, including mercury, lead, cyanide, ammonia and a toxic chemical called benzo(a)pyrene.

Federal regulators also said Indiana failed to set more stringent standards that would help clean up the Grand Calumet River, one of the most contaminated waterways in the Great Lakes region.

more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-steelfolo_weboct13,0,3850788.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout


Good for them and the Trib!

[suziedemocrat]

3. Ditch Mitch!!!