Latest news with #IDEM
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hoosiers call for tighter pollution control for BP's Lake Michigan refinery permit
The diesel-like smell sometimes rising off Lake Michigan near BP's oil refinery in Whiting gets so bad that surfer Mike Calabro and his girlfriend suffer headaches and need to get out of the water for relief. Growing up in Whiting, Calabro learned how to surf at the beach next to the refinery. He lives in Chicago now but still makes the 40-minute drive down to his old stomping grounds to hit the waves. Calabro is among a large group of environmental advocates saying Indiana regulators are failing their duty to protect the water quality of Lake Michigan by ignoring pollutants coming from BP's refinery and letting the company release excess mercury into the lake. Lake Michigan's ecosystems are threatened by the pollution coming from the refinery, the groups say, and the wildlife — including migratory birds and bald eagles nesting in the area — face toxic consequences. The groups are now calling for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to revise BP's application for its pollution discharge permit, known as an NPDES, which is renewed every five years. BP is in the process of renewing its five-year permit and is waiting for IDEM to issue the final permit detailing the parameters for each pollutant the refinery discharges. The company "is committed to safe and compliant operations at the Whiting Refinery and across our global operations," spokesperson Cesar Rodriquez wrote in an email to IndyStar. "We will continue working every day to keep this commitment and to ensure the refinery remains an important part of the Northwest Indiana economy for years to come." Rob Michaels, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law & Policy Center and part of the cohort wanting changes to the permit, said IDEM is obligated to protect water quality — and Lake Michigan in particular — but there are numerous ways the current permit fails to meet that objective. One of the biggest failures is the numerous pollutants IDEM should have previously limited in BP's discharges, Michaels said. The list of these chemicals the groups claim IDEM has ignored is long, but some of the more worrying pollutants include PFAS, known as forever chemicals, and BTEX, which are a group of chemicals found in the oil and gas industry. Both are found to be harmful to human health. One of the BTEX pollutants, benzene, is known to cause anemia and an increased risk of cancer, according to the U.S. EPA. Meg Parish, with the Environmental Integrity Project, said BTEX chemicals are 'really dangerous to people at very small levels.' 'EPA did a big study on oil refineries in 2019 and said these (chemicals) are something we should be concerned about and yet Indiana didn't even consider it,' Parish said. 'They ignored it completely.' IDEM spokesperson Barry Sneed told IndyStar the department will provide full responses to concerns about BP's permit when a final decision is made. 'If any potential permitting discrepancies are raised during the public comment period, IDEM will thoroughly evaluate and address them before making a final decision,' Sneed wrote in an email to IndyStar. One area of the permit the groups are adamant needs to be reevaluated is an exception to how much mercury BP is allowed to release. IDEM has issued the company what is known as a streamlined mercury variance for the past 12 years. This variance allows BP to release more mercury than the established safe water quality standard for Lake Michigan. The exception allows BP to discharge about five times more mercury than normally allowed. Susan Thomas, with Just Transition Northwest Indiana, called the mercury situation at BP 'egregious.' 'They've had years to remedy this situation, and they have not,' Thomas said. 'They have been given a pass all of these years by IDEM.' The group's comment letter sent to IDEM says BP has had since 2012 to come into compliance with the mercury standards for Lake Michigan to protect the ecosystem and human health but has instead 'avoided installing the treatment needed …' Calabro, the Lake Michigan surfer, is part of a group called SurfRider Foundation that helps protect coastal areas. Sarah Damron oversees many of the group's chapters in the Great Lakes. Surfers are often the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to coastal water pollution since they're out in the water and exposed to the contaminants, Damron said. The mercury variance is also one of the surfing group's main concerns. 'To just continue to allow a variance as opposed to strengthening the requirements over time so they are able to meet the standards set by the state is not in the best interest of public health and wellbeing,' Damron said. The outfalls where BP discharges its pollutants are close to the area where people like Calabro use the lake for recreation. People are fed up with the situation, Just Transition's Thomas said. 'How much more can the frontline communities take?' Thomas said. 'If you stand outside in Whiting, your throat can start to burn, your eyes tear up and you can get heart palpitations. These communities are called sacrifice zones are deserve extreme consideration.' IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at Follow him on BlueSky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: BP refinery in Indiana needs stricter pollution control, Hoosiers say
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Hoosiers call for tighter pollution control for BP's Lake Michigan refinery permit
The diesel-like smell sometimes rising off Lake Michigan near BP's oil refinery in Whiting gets so bad that surfer Mike Calabro and his girlfriend suffer headaches and need to get out of the water for relief. Growing up in Whiting, Calabro learned how to surf at the beach next to the refinery. He lives in Chicago now but still makes the 40-minute drive down to his old stomping grounds to hit the waves. Calabro is among a large group of environmental advocates saying Indiana regulators are failing their duty to protect the water quality of Lake Michigan by ignoring pollutants coming from BP's refinery and letting the company release excess mercury into the lake. Lake Michigan's ecosystems are threatened by the pollution coming from the refinery, the groups say, and the wildlife — including migratory birds and bald eagles nesting in the area — face toxic consequences. The groups are now calling for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to revise BP's application for its pollution discharge permit, known as an NPDES, which is renewed every five years. BP is in the process of renewing its five-year permit and is waiting for IDEM to issue the final permit detailing the parameters for each pollutant the refinery discharges. The company "is committed to safe and compliant operations at the Whiting Refinery and across our global operations," spokesperson Cesar Rodriquez wrote in an email to IndyStar. "We will continue working every day to keep this commitment and to ensure the refinery remains an important part of the Northwest Indiana economy for years to come." Rob Michaels, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law & Policy Center and part of the cohort wanting changes to the permit, said IDEM is obligated to protect water quality — and Lake Michigan in particular — but there are numerous ways the current permit fails to meet that objective. One of the biggest failures is the numerous pollutants IDEM should have previously limited in BP's discharges, Michaels said. The list of these chemicals the groups claim IDEM has ignored is long, but some of the more worrying pollutants include PFAS, known as forever chemicals, and BTEX, which are a group of chemicals found in the oil and gas industry. Both are found to be harmful to human health. One of the BTEX pollutants, benzene, is known to cause anemia and an increased risk of cancer, according to the U.S. EPA. Meg Parish, with the Environmental Integrity Project, said BTEX chemicals are 'really dangerous to people at very small levels.' 'EPA did a big study on oil refineries in 2019 and said these (chemicals) are something we should be concerned about and yet Indiana didn't even consider it,' Parish said. 'They ignored it completely.' IDEM spokesperson Barry Sneed told IndyStar the department will provide full responses to concerns about BP's permit when a final decision is made. 'If any potential permitting discrepancies are raised during the public comment period, IDEM will thoroughly evaluate and address them before making a final decision,' Sneed wrote in an email to IndyStar. One area of the permit the groups are adamant needs to be reevaluated is an exception to how much mercury BP is allowed to release. IDEM has issued the company what is known as a streamlined mercury variance for the past 12 years. This variance allows BP to release more mercury than the established safe water quality standard for Lake Michigan. The exception allows BP to discharge about five times more mercury than normally allowed. Susan Thomas, with Just Transition Northwest Indiana, called the mercury situation at BP 'egregious.' 'They've had years to remedy this situation, and they have not,' Thomas said. 'They have been given a pass all of these years by IDEM.' The group's comment letter sent to IDEM says BP has had since 2012 to come into compliance with the mercury standards for Lake Michigan to protect the ecosystem and human health but has instead 'avoided installing the treatment needed …' Calabro, the Lake Michigan surfer, is part of a group called SurfRider Foundation that helps protect coastal areas. Sarah Damron oversees many of the group's chapters in the Great Lakes. Surfers are often the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to coastal water pollution since they're out in the water and exposed to the contaminants, Damron said. The mercury variance is also one of the surfing group's main concerns. 'To just continue to allow a variance as opposed to strengthening the requirements over time so they are able to meet the standards set by the state is not in the best interest of public health and wellbeing,' Damron said. The outfalls where BP discharges its pollutants are close to the area where people like Calabro use the lake for recreation. People are fed up with the situation, Just Transition's Thomas said. 'How much more can the frontline communities take?' Thomas said. 'If you stand outside in Whiting, your throat can start to burn, your eyes tear up and you can get heart palpitations. These communities are called sacrifice zones are deserve extreme consideration.' IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Hoosiers call for tighter pollution control for BP's Lake Michigan refinery permit
The diesel-like smell sometimes rising off Lake Michigan near BP's oil refinery in Whiting gets so bad that surfer Mike Calabro and his girlfriend suffer headaches and need to get out of the water for relief. Growing up in Whiting, Calabro learned how to surf at the beach next to the refinery. He lives in Chicago now but still makes the 40-minute drive down to his old stomping grounds to hit the waves. Calabro is among a large group of environmental advocates saying Indiana regulators are failing their duty to protect the water quality of Lake Michigan by ignoring pollutants coming from BP's refinery and letting the company release excess mercury into the lake. Lake Michigan's ecosystems are threatened by the pollution coming from the refinery, the groups say, and the wildlife — including migratory birds and bald eagles nesting in the area — face toxic consequences. The groups are now calling for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to revise BP's application for its pollution discharge permit, known as an NPDES, which is renewed every five years. BP is in the process of renewing its five-year permit and is waiting for IDEM to issue the final permit detailing the parameters for each pollutant the refinery discharges. The company "is committed to safe and compliant operations at the Whiting Refinery and across our global operations," spokesperson Cesar Rodriquez wrote in an email to IndyStar. "We will continue working every day to keep this commitment and to ensure the refinery remains an important part of the Northwest Indiana economy for years to come." Rob Michaels, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law & Policy Center and part of the cohort wanting changes to the permit, said IDEM is obligated to protect water quality — and Lake Michigan in particular — but there are numerous ways the current permit fails to meet that objective. One of the biggest failures is the numerous pollutants IDEM should have previously limited in BP's discharges, Michaels said. The list of these chemicals the groups claim IDEM has ignored is long, but some of the more worrying pollutants include PFAS, known as forever chemicals, and BTEX, which are a group of chemicals found in the oil and gas industry. Both are found to be harmful to human health. One of the BTEX pollutants, benzene, is known to cause anemia and an increased risk of cancer, according to the U.S. EPA. Meg Parish, with the Environmental Integrity Project, said BTEX chemicals are 'really dangerous to people at very small levels.' 'EPA did a big study on oil refineries in 2019 and said these (chemicals) are something we should be concerned about and yet Indiana didn't even consider it,' Parish said. 'They ignored it completely.' IDEM spokesperson Barry Sneed told IndyStar the department will provide full responses to concerns about BP's permit when a final decision is made. 'If any potential permitting discrepancies are raised during the public comment period, IDEM will thoroughly evaluate and address them before making a final decision,' Sneed wrote in an email to IndyStar. One area of the permit the groups are adamant needs to be reevaluated is an exception to how much mercury BP is allowed to release. IDEM has issued the company what is known as a streamlined mercury variance for the past 12 years. This variance allows BP to release more mercury than the established safe water quality standard for Lake Michigan. The exception allows BP to discharge about five times more mercury than normally allowed. Susan Thomas, with Just Transition Northwest Indiana, called the mercury situation at BP 'egregious.' 'They've had years to remedy this situation, and they have not,' Thomas said. 'They have been given a pass all of these years by IDEM.' The group's comment letter sent to IDEM says BP has had since 2012 to come into compliance with the mercury standards for Lake Michigan to protect the ecosystem and human health but has instead 'avoided installing the treatment needed …' Calabro, the Lake Michigan surfer, is part of a group called SurfRider Foundation that helps protect coastal areas. Sarah Damron oversees many of the group's chapters in the Great Lakes. Surfers are often the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to coastal water pollution since they're out in the water and exposed to the contaminants, Damron said. The mercury variance is also one of the surfing group's main concerns. 'To just continue to allow a variance as opposed to strengthening the requirements over time so they are able to meet the standards set by the state is not in the best interest of public health and wellbeing,' Damron said. The outfalls where BP discharges its pollutants are close to the area where people like Calabro use the lake for recreation. People are fed up with the situation, Just Transition's Thomas said. 'How much more can the frontline communities take?' Thomas said. 'If you stand outside in Whiting, your throat can start to burn, your eyes tear up and you can get heart palpitations. These communities are called sacrifice zones are deserve extreme consideration.' IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
IDEM releases new inspection report for U.S. Steel facility
A new inspection by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has been positive for U.S. Steel's Midwest plant in Portage. The Midwest plant received satisfactory results in most areas, including receiving waters; effluent/discharge; permit; stormwater; facility/site; operation; maintenance; sludge; flow measurement; laboratory; records/reports; and enforcement. The facility received marginal ratings in self-monitoring and effluent limits compliance. Marginal ratings are just below satisfactory and still considered acceptable. The facility has a history with chemical spills, as recently as 2019 when the plant shut down due to a hexavalent chromium discharge, according to Post-Tribune archives. A spokesperson for U.S. Steel said in a Wednesday email that IDEM inspections occur 'fairly regularly.' The U.S. Steel Midwest plant is on an accelerated inspection schedule, said an IDEM spokesperson in an email. 'Since 2024, IDEM has conducted nine wastewater inspections at the U.S. Steel (facility),' the statement said. IDEM did not say why U.S. Steel is on an accelerated pace and if it is because of past incidents at the Midwest plant. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permitted facilities usually receive regular inspections every two years, according to IDEM. The Clean Water Act prohibits discharging pollutants through a point source into U.S. waters unless a group has an NPDES permit, which can limit discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The permit helps ensure discharge doesn't hurt water quality or public health. U.S. Steel's NPDES permit is valid through Sept. 30, 2026, according to the industrial facility inspection report. The most recent inspection was completed on March 5. 'The latest IDEM inspection shows that U.S. Steel continues to meet our environmental obligations and adhere to the limits set forth in our operating permit,' said a statement from U.S. Steel. 'Environmental excellence is a top priority for the dedicated employees at all of our facilities, and we are always working to improve our processes and invest in technologies that will help us meet that goal. We also continue to work collaboratively with IDEM and other agencies to comply with our permit requirements.' The Portage-based Midwest plant is a steel finishing facility that operates as part of Gary Works, according to U.S. Steel's website. The plant creates tin mill products and hot-dip galvanized, cold-rolled and electrical lamination steels. The products are used in automotive, construction, container and electrical industries, according to IDEM's website. Receiving waters for the Midwest plant include the Burns Waterway, which the facility had previously released chemicals into, according to Post-Tribune archives. One chemical included hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen that can lead to nasal and sinus cancers, kidney and liver damage, nasal and skin irritation and ulceration, and eye irritation and damage, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In 2017, a spill at the plant leaked more than 900 pounds of the chemical, leading to closures of beaches in and near the Indiana Dunes National Park. Low levels of a carcinogen were found in Lake Michigan because of a pipe failure at the steel plant, which caused contaminated water to be released to the wrong wastewater treatment plant. In 2019, the facility was offline for about a week due to the hexavalent chromium discharge. U.S. Steel recorded a spike of .845 pounds per day, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wetlands project under way in West Terre Haute
A new wetlands project in West Terre Haute is in the works. Indiana's Department of Environmental Management has submitted an application through its Office of Water Quality/Wetlands Section for a Section 401 Water Quality Certification in order to reestablish wetlands in West Terre Haute. The project's location is about 80 acres of Department of Natural Resources property about a third of a mile northeast of the intersection of West Fairview Avenue and Barnhardt Road. About 69 acres of wetlands will be restored through processes involving re-establishment, rehabilitation and enhancement. 'The McClain Mitigation Project to restore wetlands on DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife property in Vigo County has been proposed by the Indiana Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program,' said Marty Benson of IDEM. 'The proposed project will provide water quality benefits to the residents of Vigo County and the Middle Wabash Service Area through increased groundwater filtration, flood protection and support of biodiversity. 'The restored wetlands and stream riparian areas would be permanently protected by deed restriction. The project would fulfill in-lieu fee wetland and stream credit sales in the Middle Wabash Service Area and replace and benefit aquatic resources in that area.' Benson added, 'This project is not related to the Wabash Valley Resources plans for the area.' The property was acquired by DNR in September 2019. Indiana Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program identified the site as an opportunity for restoration, and it completed preliminary design work in 2024. 'For now, this project stems from IDNR's In-Lieu Program, specifically for the Middle Wabash Service Area,' said Evan White, project manager wetlands and stormwater in the water quality office. 'It is a result of wetlands and stream permits from within the Middle Wabash Service Area that required compensatory mitigation for those projects' impacts,' he continued. 'This site is one of many that will be built within this service area to offset multiple different projects' impacts to aquatic resources.' Indiana Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program pursues projects of this nature throughout the state to fulfill in-lieu fee mitigation credits, which is a type of compensatory mitigation where a permittee pays a fee that is used to conduct wetland restoration and enhancement. The purpose of announcing the application was to solicit public comment and information on any impacts the project may have on water quality in the area. White can be reached at 317-671-6698 of EVWhite@ Correspondence should include IDEM's project number, which is 2025-373-84-EJW-WQC.
