Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News is the newsletter of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund, published five times per year. The News is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin.
Volume 15, Number 4 • Winter 2007
Lake Michigan
Basin Update
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Takes Another Step Backward with U.S. Steel
By Jamie Cross, Alliance for the Great Lakes
In July, the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM) and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) approved a permit for BP to discharge
50% more pollutants into Lake
Michigan from their Whiting, IN Plant.
Outraged by the approval environmental
groups and elected officials called on BP
to eliminate increased discharges from
their expansion proposal. Their quick action resulted in thousands
of signatures on petitions and
resolutions at the local, state
and federal level being passed
opposing BP’s proposal. Due to
public pressure, in August BP
publicly stated that it would
not discharge pollutants
beyond previously permitted
levels – a tremendous victory
for the Great Lakes and an
awesome demonstration of
the difference that grassroots
action makes. (For how to
help, visit glhabitat.org/takeaction.html.)
Environmental groups in
Indiana had little time to rest
after BP’s decision. Shortly
afterward, the community was alerted to a permit extension
application for U.S. Steel allowing them to continue to use outdated
water quality standards for another five years at their Lake
Michigan facility in Gary, Indiana.
In an effort to keep the pressure on IDEM to ensure that
pollution discharge permits meet stringent requirements laid out
by the Clean Water Act, 12 environmental groups have requested
that EPA hold a public hearing to discuss U.S. Steel’s proposal.
Although the company has made strides in recent years to
enhance its operational efficiency and environmental compliance,
it is operating under outdated wastewater standards that are a
detriment to water quality, human health and aquatic life.
In written comments submitted to IDEM, the Alliance for the Great
Lakes urged that U.S. Steel’s GaryWorks facility rapidly move into
compliance with stricter water quality standards. Requests
include:
- Eliminating the “five-year pass” compliance schedule U.S.
Steel proposes for several pollutants, including mercury,
and instead requiring specific interim pollution discharge
limits.
- Requiring substantial reductions in the discharge of free
cyanide, oil, grease, and thermal pollution to the Grand
Calumet River (which flows into Lake Michigan).
- Reducing stormwater runoff,which contains unknown
quantities of pollution, into Lake Michigan.
Since these comments were submitted, EPA has officially objected
to the U.S. Steel permit. This action legally prevents IDEM from
issuing the permit and provides an opportunity for the public
hearing.
Groups in the region will continue
to monitor U.S. Steel’s permit
application and keep a close watch
on other pending permits to
encourage IDEM and EPA to reduce
the amount of pollutants entering
Lake Michigan. As evidenced by
the BP debate, the court of public
opinion is an essential tool in
reducing and preventing pollution
from entering Lake Michigan.
To get involved, visit
www.glhabitat.org
Contact Jamie Cross, Alliance for
the Great Lakes for more info:
(616) 850-0745 x12
or JCross@greatlakes.org
Public Hearing
EPA announced the public hearing – December 11, 2007,
Indiana University Northwest’s auditorium in
Gary from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8:30 CST
Thanks to the following groups that called for a public
hearing, including: • Environment Illinois, • Environmental Law
and Policy Center, • Hoosier Chapter of Sierra Club, • Hoosier
Environmental Council, • IndianaWildlife Federation, • Indiana
Division-IzaakWalton League of America, • League ofWomen
Voters of Northwest Indiana, • Legal Environmental Aid
Foundation of Indiana, • Natural Resources Defense Council,
• People Opposed to Wastewater Without Enough Review,
• Save the Dunes Council and • Alliance for the Great Lakes.
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