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| Thursday, February 14, 2008 | (3 comment(s))
Times staff report
WHITING | A coalition of environmental groups is echoing a request by three Illinois legislators, including presidential candidate Barack Obama, that more time be spent studying draft air and construction permits for BP's Whiting refinery.
The permits are related to a $3.8 billion expansion at the refinery, intended to secure the facility's future.
On Tuesday, Illinois Democrats Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Obama and Rep. Rham Emanuel requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency step in and do a comprehensive analysis of the permits, citing a short timeline set by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for their discussion.
IDEM allotted 41 days for public review and comment of the more than 1,300-page document. Tom Anderson, executive director of the Save the Dunes Council, a coalition member, said the groups would like another three weeks to review several boxes of technical documents before the March 21 deadline.
"While we recognize that IDEM is operating within the law regarding the amount of time allotted for public comment, it is in the best interests of all parties to make sure adequate time is provided for such a far-reaching permit," Anderson said. "They have waited this long to prepare and release the permit, and we just don't understand what the rush is all about."
The coalition of 12 environmental groups would also like an additional public meeting to be scheduled, where people can lean more about the permits and have the opportunity to ask questions. Currently, two back-to-back hearings are scheduled for 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. March 14 at the Hammond Civic Center.
A call to BP for comment was not returned.
Coalition members
Alliance for the Great Lakes, Environment Illinois, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Hoosier Chapter of Sierra Club, Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, Indiana Toxic Action, Indiana Wildlife Federation, League of Women Voters of Northwest Indiana, Legal Environmental Aid Foundation of Indiana, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Save the Dunes Council.
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Brice Johnson wrote on Feb 14, 2008 2:07 PM:
How is it that all these would be guardians of our rights had no trouble voting for the 22,000 page Patriot Act in less than two days, but whine about having nearly two months to read only 1700 pages of content they are not qualified to read anyway.
No matter, the Senators and Congressmen didn't read the Patriot Act and won't read the IDEM permit documents either. It's all about publicity...and foreign invest-contributors to their campaigns. "
Charles R. Reichert wrote on Feb 14, 2008 11:00 AM:
Time is money. Long, protracted strategic delays are great for killing projects like this. Costs escalate during delays and that is part of the oppositions plan. Stall until BP gives up. These folks need to get a clue about the economic realities we all are facing today. Here is an existing business, a neighbor and partner (and taxpayer)employing large numbers of people that wants to spend large sums of money that will bring more jobs to a region that could use eceonomic stimulus.
Don't chase them away! We all have to drink the water and breathe the air. Review processes and established timelines are set to protect both sides in these disputes. Be prudent and allow the system to work. "
Tired of delays, delays wrote on Feb 14, 2008 8:45 AM: