WASHINGTON | Congress is applying more pressure on oil company giant BP to drop a refinery expansion plan that would add more pollution to Lake Michigan.
The House approved a resolution today sponsored by Chicago Democrat Rahm Emanuel and Michigan Republican Vernon Ehlers that expresses disapproval of the plan.
The vote was 387-to-26 in favor.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued a permit allowing BP to increase its daily dumping of ammonia and sludge into Lake Michigan. It's part of BP's plan to expand its refinery in Whiting, Indiana.
Members of Illinois' congressional delegation, led by Senator Dick Durbin and Emanuel, met yesterday with B-P officials, who agreed to look at alternatives to the increased dumping.
