House Rejects BP'S Plans to Dump Pollution into Great Lakes

For Immediate Release:
July 25, 2007

HOUSE REJECTS BP'S PLANS TO DUMP POLLUTION INTO GREAT LAKES

WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) applauded the passage of H. Con. Res. 187, which opposes British Petroleum's (BP) dumping of industrial waste into the Great Lakes. The resolution passed the full House today by a vote of 387 to 26. The measure was introduced after BP received approval from the State of Indiana and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more liquid waste into Lake Michigan.

Congresswoman Schakowsky released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 187.

"Today's vote showed that Congress is united in its opposition to BP's dumping of industrial waste into Lake Michigan. An overwhelming bipartisan majority demanded today that BP abandon plans to increase pollution into our Great Lakes.

After meeting with BP's top executives yesterday, I believe that they finally 'get it' that it is completely unacceptable to pollute Lake Michigan and that it is in their best interest to find an environmentally acceptable solution to this problem.

I am cautiously optimistic that BP will return to Congress at the beginning of September with a new plan for disposing of these materials without putting the integrity of the Lake at risk.

However, if BP does not abandon their plans, then they had better prepare themselves for a fight, because Congress stands ready and willing to take any necessary action to stop BP from polluting Lake Michigan....