BP Great Lakes Dumping Plan Panned

A state-sanctioned plan to allow BP to increase pollution to Lake Michigan is raising the hackles of the region's mayors, who have been working along with a broad coalition to improve water quality in the Great Lakes system.

BP, which has a sophisticated advertising campaign touting its environmental work worldwide, has the preliminary ok from Indiana to increase the output of ammonia and other industrial wastes from a refinery, as it boosts gasoline production for a tight market strapped by refinery outages across the country.

Congress could even get involved, as Democrat Rahm Emanuel and Republican Vern Ehlers introduced a bill that would urge Indiana to reconsider its decision. The federal government has pumped millions of dollars into the Great Lakes restoration effort.

BP officials, meanwhile, point to their investment in environmental protection as part of the upgrade. It's a start?

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