BP should not be allowed to increase pollution

Recently, the Chicago Tribune reported that the State of Indiana has approved an expansion of the BP Whiting Refinery that will significantly increase the amount of pollution the company’s operations discharge into Lake Michigan. Without proper environmental controls, BP’s plan and the precedent it sets, jeopardizes all of the efforts of the last 30 years to protect the Great Lakes and keep our region an unparalleled place to live, work and raise a family.

As your Councilman, I understand that local leaders are on the front lines in addressing issues of concern. Each of us should be advocates for the long-term health of the Lake Michigan.

It is not in anyone’s interest to facilitate expansion at the expense of our region’s greatest natural resource and economic engine—the Great Lakes. We are fortunate to have one of the world’s largest sources of fresh water at our doorstep. Other communities in the United States, Canada and around the world are not so lucky.

We must work together to enhance the Great Lakes, protecting them so that future generations can use and enjoy their clean water. Our lakes are one of our most valuable resources, and we should all urge BP and the State of Indiana to take leadership in its protection, rather than its contamination.