[Ang]

I love your avatar Stumper. It looks like a muppet (Guy Smiley perhaps?) and I LOVE the muppets.
Lake Effect sent me an email concerning this issue. I assume he got my addy from ND Soundoff. Anyway, since he sent me an email about it, I invited him to join our MB.
He, like me, is a former Hoosier who lives out west and has a vested interest in the Lake.

And concerning BP's response, like I said, It's just fluff to quiet the masses.

[Ang]

The Anti-BP bandwagon is going to need a trailer with as many people jumping on it. Hopefully all these groups collectively will be able to stop the dumping.....

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46017.27

Groups Say 80 Jobs Not Worth Environmental Impact
From Staff Reports

MICHIGAN CITY - The Save the Dunes Council and an organization representing 60 chapters of the League of Women Voters on Friday slammed the state for allowing the British Petroleum refinery in Whiting to discharge more pollutants into Lake Michigan.

The Save the Dunes Council, an environmental group based in Michigan City, said the creation of 80 new jobs at an expanded BP refinery isn't a justification for additional sludge and ammonia to be put into the lake.

"Save the Dunes argues that the creation of 80 or so proposed permanent jobs or the 2,500 temporary jobs is in no way equal, in proportion, to the economic and social importance of a clean Great Lakes," said Susan MiHalo, Save the Dunes Council president.

Under Indiana law, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Commissioner, Thomas Easterly, has discretionary powers that allowed him to issue the permit. Law allows IDEM to weigh additional pollution against other social and economic factors, and additional jobs was a key factor.

"BP needs to understand the regional and national importance of this vitally important fresh water system," she said. "The best entity to convey that to BP and to IDEM is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

Meanwhile, Jeanette Neagu of Michigan City, co-president of the Lake Michigan Interleague Organization, representing 60 League of Women Voters chapters in the Lake Michigan watershed, said the group strongly opposes IDEM's decision.

"We do not believe lack of space to expand its wastewater treatment facility in Whiting is justification for permitting BP to discharge daily into Lake Michigan 1,584 pounds of ammonia and 4,925 pounds of sludge (contaminated with numerous toxic metals). If BP has the capacity to move tons of sands from upper Canada to Indiana and the capacity to move millions of gallons of gasoline and oil from one state to another it surely can find a solution for the removal of toxins before additional contaminants are sent into Lake Michigan," Neagu said in a prepared statement.

BP has argued that the additional pollutants are within pollution discharge limits and that the 21 million gallons of water treated at its plant each day before discharge into Lake Michigan is 99.999 percent water, with the remainder particles so fine they can't be collected by treatment plant's filtration system.

BP plans a $3.8 billion modernization and expansion of the refinery to handle Canadian crude oil, which is "dirtier" that Middle East crude. The refinery supplies gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for much of the Midwest.

[Southsider2k12]

Well if we really want to make a statement, stop buying gas at BP and Amacco stations. There is only one in Michigan City, right there at Greene and Franklin, but anywhere else you might be, go to a competitor.

Also I noticed Richard Murphy is forwarding a petition that Chicago has put out against this. It is also a good time to start contacting our local polititians, all of the way up to our national representatives to make our voices heard. Supposedly Mr Pelath is already trying to fight this, so phone in your support to him, and ask the rest of them to start acting! Rememeber they say that representatives figure for each contact they get for the general public, that means there are a 100 other people who feel the sameway.

We can fight this!

[mcstumper]

I love your avatar Stumper. It looks like a muppet (Guy Smiley perhaps?) and I LOVE the muppets.
Lake Effect sent me an email concerning this issue. I assume he got my addy from ND Soundoff. Anyway, since he sent me an email about it, I invited him to join our MB.
He, like me, is a former Hoosier who lives out west and has a vested interest in the Lake.

And concerning BP's response, like I said, It's just fluff to quiet the masses.

Got ya. I just wanted to make sure that if there was a double top secret chat room, I was getting invited.

The avatar is actually an anchorman character from my favorite TV show, Robot Chicken. Search it on YouTube and you can find some clips.

[Ang]

Well if we really want to make a statement, stop buying gas at BP and Amacco stations.

I NEVER buy gas from BP, nor Amoco. I am loyal to Sinclair. Sinclair drills for oil in Wyoming and refines it in Wyoming. Their gas is usually 3-5 cents cheaper than anyone else. Also, at the beginning of summer when gas prices were skyrocketing all over the nation, Sinclair kept their gas below $3/gal. the whole time. The highest it went was $2.95. At least they did here in Casper.

What about you LakeEffect? Do you guys have Sinclair in your state? I know they do in Nebraska but I can't remember if I saw one when I passed through your state.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.c...ba3f227f174.cfm

Here is the Chicago page with a link to their petition...

PARK DISTRICT URGES PUBLIC TO HELP “SAVE OUR LAKE” FROM INDUSTRIAL SLUDGE

Release Date: 07/19/07
Chicago, IL– The Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago announced plans for a petition drive on local beaches to save the lakefront from industrial sludge. The Park District and the City are urging concerned citizens to sign a petition to “Save Our Lake.” Click here for a petition.

In addition, the Park District is asking for volunteers to come out to the 14 locations along the City of Chicago’s entire Lakefront this Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22 from 9am to 1pm to sign petitions and/or volunteer to get more signatures.

With the approved expansion of BP’s Whiting Refinery by way of state regulators circumventing environmental laws, a considerable amount of ammonia and industrial sludge will be polluting Lake Michigan, the very source of Chicago’s fresh water.

“The Chicago Park District works hard to manage our lakefront beaches and keep them clean for all Chicagoans and visitors to enjoy,” said Timothy J. Mitchell, Superintendent & CEO of the Chicago Park District. “Clean, fresh water is an essential human necessity that we require to sustain a healthy lifestyle. We are urging concerned citizens to help by signing this petition that helps preserve and protect this valued natural resource, so that future generations can use and enjoy its clean water.”

On Saturday and Sunday, July 21 & 22 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., the Chicago Park District & City of Chicago will be staging a volunteer effort along the City of Chicago’s entire Lakefront to “Save Our Lake.” At 14 locations along the lakefront, concerned citizens can help by signing a petition or volunteering to recruit more signatures. The following is a list of 14 locations that will be staging the volunteer effort to “Save Our Lake”:

·Loyola Park, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.
·Foster Avenue Beach, 5200 North and the lake
·Montrose Beach, 4400 North and the lake
·North Avenue Beach, 1603 N. Lake Shore Drive
·Oak Street Beach, 1000 North and the lake
·Navy Pier
·Buckingham Fountain, Congress Parkway and Columbus Drive
·Museum Campus (12th Street Beach)
·31st Street Beach, 3100 South and the lake
·57th Street/Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 South and the lake
·63rd Street Beach, 6300 South and the lake
·South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.
·Rainbow Beach, 3111 E. 77th St.
·Calumet, 9801 S. Ave. G

For more information about how you can help “Save Our Lake” please call 312.742.4775 or email at janis.taylor@chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Publication Date: 07/19/07

[Southsider2k12]

OK, I know there are a couple of petitions going, and stuff like that, but the most effective thing you can do is to get ahold of your elected representatives. Phone calls have the biggest impact, but letter writing and email help as well. I did include people who would be representing Lake, Porter, as well as Laporte county so that we can contact everyone if we like. Pass this list on to concerned friends if you have the time.

Governor Mitch Daniels, click here for email form

By Phone: 317-232-4567

By Mail:
Office of the Governor
Statehouse
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797

Indiana US Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar

Bayh, Evan- (D - IN) Class III
131 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5623
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Lugar, Richard G.- (R - IN) Class I
306 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4814
E-mail: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov

Indiana US represenatives

District One (Lake/Porter/West Laporte Co)
Rep. Visclosky, Peter [D]
To send an email, you must use this form

Washington Office
2256 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone (202) 225-2461
Fax (202) 225-2493

Northwest Indiana Office
701 East 83rd Avenue, Suite 9
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Phone (219) 795-1844 or
(888) 423-PETE
Fax (219) 795-1850


District Two (East LaPorte/St Joe Co)
Rep. Donnelly, Joe [D]
Click here to send an email

Office Locations

Washington, DC
U.S. House of Representatives
Longworth House Office Building 1218
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3915
Fax: (202) 226-6798
Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (E.S.T.)

South Bend
207 West Colfax Avenue
South Bend, IN 46601
Phone: 574.288.2780
Fax: 574.288.2825
Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (E.S.T.)

Logansport
300 East Broadway Suite #102
Logansport, IN 46947
Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. -6:00 p. m. (E.S.T.)
Phone: 574-753-2671
Fax: 574-753-7615

La Porte
809 State Street, Room 502B
La Porte, IN 46350
Phone: 219.326.6808 ext. 414
Hours: Wednesday 8:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. (C.S.T.)

Michigan City
100 East Michigan Boulevard
Michigan City, IN 46360
Phone: 219.873.1403 ext.308
Hours: 2nd Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (C.S.T.)

Indiana State Senators

James Arnold-Senate District Eight
Click here to email

Statehouse Address:
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, In 46204-2785
(800)382-9467 or (317)232-9532

S8@in.gov District Address:
5698 West Johnson Road
LaPorte, IN 46350

Senator Frank Mrvan
Representing portions of Lake County
Democrat - Senate District 1
Term Expires: 2010

Statehouse Address:
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, In 46204-2785
(800)382-9467 or (317)232-9849

S1@in.gov District Address:
6732 Maryland Ave.
Hammond, IN 46323
219-844-3375

Senator Sam Smith
Caucus Chair
Representing portions of Lake County
Democrat - Senate District 2
Term Expires: 2008

Statehouse Address:
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, In 46204-2785
(800)382-9467 or (317)232-9461
S2@in.gov District Address:
Post Office Box 3218
East Chicago, IN 46312
(219) 397-2024

Senator Earline Rogers
Representing portions of Lake County
Democrat - Senate District 3
Term Expires: 2008

Statehouse Address:
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, In 46204-2785
(800)382-9467 or (317)232-9491

S3@in.gov District Address:
3636 W. 15th Street
Gary, IN 46404
(219) 949-7578

Senator Karen Tallian
Representing portions of Lake and Porter Counties
Democrat - Senate District 4
Term Expires: 2010

Statehouse Address:
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, In 46204-2785
(800)382-9467 or (317)232-9532

S4@in.gov District Address:
6195 Central Avenue
Portage, IN 46368
(219) 764-0434

Senator Sue Landske 6th District Lake and Porter Co
Indiana State Senator, District 6

200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 232-9400
(800) 382-9467

Indiana State Represenatives

Scott Pelath

...by mail
Rep. Scott Pelath
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
...by phone
Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842

To email, use this form

Tom Dermody
State Representative
House District 20

Email Me - h20@IN.gov

Indiana House Republicans
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
1.800.382.9841

District #3 Charlie Brown

...by mail
Rep. Charlie Brown
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
...by phone
Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842

email h3@IN.gov


Ed Soliday-District 4
Email Me - h4@IN.gov

Indiana House Republicans
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
1.800.382.9841

Rep. Earl Harris
Dep. Speaker Pro Tem“I feel fortunate to call East Chicago my home, and I am proud to represent a portion of Gary. The men and women who reside in the district always have worked together to build up our communities. They are hard workers who celebrate diversity, yet are united in their commitment to their families and their neighbors.”


Rep. Earl Harris District 2
Dep. Speaker Pro Tem

h2@IN.gov

Rep. Earl Harris
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204 ...

by phoneCall toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842

Rep. Dan Stevenson District 11
State Representative


h11@IN.gov

...by mail
Rep. Dan Stevenson
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
...by phone
Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842

Rep. Vernon G. Smith District 14
State Representative

h14@IN.gov

by mail
Rep. Vernon G. Smith
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
...by phone
Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842

Rep. Jack Clem District 10
State Representative


h10@IN.gov

Rep. Jack Clem
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

...by phone
Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842

[Roger Kaputnik]

I am contacting all the above, and I urge you to do so, too. Forward this link to other groups as well, to form a groundswell of support FOR the lake and our corner of it!

[Ang]

If you guys want to throw key points out here, I will be happy to put together a letter. I am an excellent letter writer. Either post it or PM me with important statements you would like in the letter and I'll put it all together. I'll give you guys till Thursday and then I write the letter Friday. Hows that sound?

[Roger Kaputnik]

Administrator, can you combine the two BP vs. Lake threads so they are easier to keep track of, and send off to people?

[Southsider2k12]

Administrator, can you combine the two BP vs. Lake threads so they are easier to keep track of, and send off to people?

Yeah, I can do that...

[Ang]

Actually Roger, I think this is the original thread, Mike just changed the name of it. If you go back to page one, it started July 16th when the original story was published.

[Ang]

Am I late?

[Southsider2k12]

Actually Roger, I think this is the original thread, Mike just changed the name of it. If you go back to page one, it started July 16th when the original story was published.

I thought he was asking to combine the posts of represenatives, so I did that... But now that I re-read his post, I thinkyou were referring to exactly what Roger is asking. I did change the title thread a couple of days ago, to make its contents a little more obvious for people who didn't know what it was about. You would only need to send a link to either the post with the links to your reps, or the first post in the thread to send this around. Good luck!

[Southsider2k12]

If you guys want to throw key points out here, I will be happy to put together a letter. I am an excellent letter writer. Either post it or PM me with important statements you would like in the letter and I'll put it all together. I'll give you guys till Thursday and then I write the letter Friday. Hows that sound?

I'd love your help! I think the big thing we need to do is to keep it short and to the point. We want to express the outrage over the situation, and that is not worth a little refining capacity and 80 jobs. We want their committment to standing with us to protect our biggest natural asset.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Of course, I will be delighted to edit!


1. History of past pollution and the effort required to clean up. Remember the alewives.

2. Current problems with bacteria.

3. Economic and aesthetic importance of the Lake.

4. BP's current profit level.

5. Our commitment to improving our lives and our progeny's lives.

Each point could go a sentence or two to keep it short.

[Ang]

I'll do some research on the above topics over the next few days. One other thing I would like to add is what refineries in other states do with their waste.

Please forward any facts/figures you guys have on this subject. I think it's important to back our statements up with numbers.

And Roger, I would be happy to have you proofread and edit. I know that sometimes I can be a little "wordy."

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=50095.86

Groups Say 80 Jobs Not Worth Environmental Impact
From Staff Reports

MICHIGAN CITY - The Save the Dunes Council and an organization representing 60 chapters of the League of Women Voters on Friday slammed the state for allowing the British Petroleum refinery in Whiting to discharge more pollutants into Lake Michigan.

The Save the Dunes Council, an environmental group based in Michigan City, said the creation of 80 new jobs at an expanded BP refinery isn't a justification for additional sludge and ammonia to be put into the lake.

"Save the Dunes argues that the creation of 80 or so proposed permanent jobs or the 2,500 temporary jobs is in no way equal, in proportion, to the economic and social importance of a clean Great Lakes," said Susan MiHalo, Save the Dunes Council president.

Under Indiana law, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Commissioner, Thomas Easterly, has discretionary powers that allowed him to issue the permit. Law allows IDEM to weigh additional pollution against other social and economic factors, and additional jobs was a key factor.

"BP needs to understand the regional and national importance of this vitally important fresh water system," she said. "The best entity to convey that to BP and to IDEM is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

Meanwhile, Jeanette Neagu of Michigan City, co-president of the Lake Michigan Interleague Organization, representing 60 League of Women Voters chapters in the Lake Michigan watershed, said the group strongly opposes IDEM's decision.

"We do not believe lack of space to expand its wastewater treatment facility in Whiting is justification for permitting BP to discharge daily into Lake Michigan 1,584 pounds of ammonia and 4,925 pounds of sludge (contaminated with numerous toxic metals). If BP has the capacity to move tons of sands from upper Canada to Indiana and the capacity to move millions of gallons of gasoline and oil from one state to another it surely can find a solution for the removal of toxins before additional contaminants are sent into Lake Michigan," Neagu said in a prepared statement.

BP has argued that the additional pollutants are within pollution discharge limits and that the 21 million gallons of water treated at its plant each day before discharge into Lake Michigan is 99.999 percent water, with the remainder particles so fine they can't be collected by treatment plant's filtration system.

BP plans a $3.8 billion modernization and expansion of the refinery to handle Canadian crude oil, which is "dirtier" that Middle East crude. The refinery supplies gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for much of the Midwest.

[mcstumper]

Don't forget to add something on the environmental impact of ammonia...

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/bse/442-110/442-110.html

[Southsider2k12]

Its nice to see our mayor getting involved here. Like I said, getting behind Rich Daley is a pretty safe place to be.

The next thing I would like to see at the local level is a non-binding resolution from the council on this subject.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46645.73

Mayor Urges Action At BP
MICHIGAN CITY - Mayor Chuck Oberlie on Monday issued a statement urging residents to get involved in the petition drive to comment on BP Amoco plans to increase its discharges into Lake Michigan.

An expansion of BP's Whiting, Ind., refinery so it can handle heavy Canadian crude oil instead of lighter Middle Eastern oil would allow BP to dump hundreds of pounds more of ammonia and toxic sludge into the lake each day.

Oberlie's statement Monday said: "The citizens of Michigan City and our immediate surrounding areas depend upon the fresh water of Lake Michigan as our source of drinking water. But even more importantly, we must accept our responsibility to act as stewards of this outstanding natural resource for children, grandchildren and all generations of citizens that have yet to be born.

"As stewards of clean water in Lake Michigan, we must take action to ask BP Amoco to join us in these critical efforts to reduce pollution in Lake Michigan, rather than adding pollution to the lake," said Oberlie.

Oberlie said that a section of BP's Web site is dedicated to environmental requirements for new projects. The company's Web site, he said, contains the following quote: "BP needs to convince its critics that in a company of such size, it is able to turn

good headquarters policies into effective operational practice."

"We must urge BP to begin 'effective operational practice' right here in Northwest Indiana with an improved system that will not result in increased ammonia and increased industrial waste into Lake Michigan," Oberlie said.

The mayor said the city has duplicated the Save Lake Michigan petition drive initiated by Chicago and is asking local residents to sign the petitions and return them to the mayor's office in City Hall, or fax them to the mayor's office at 873-1515.

Petition forms can be downloaded from the emichigancity.com Web site, or they can be obtained directly from the mayor's office at City Hall.