NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

GARRETT, MILLNER START BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO KEEP POLLUTANTS OUT OF LAKE MIGHIGAN

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois -- State Senator Susan Garrett (D - Lake Forest) has partnered with State Senator John J. Millner (R - Carol Stream) in introducing a legislative measure aimed at preventing increased pollution entering Lake Michigan.

Garrett and Millner have teamed to introduce a resolution in the Illinois Senate that urges the federal Environmental Protection Agency to prohibit British Petroleum (BP) from increasing the amount of ammonia and sludge it discharges into Lake Michigan. The measure also urges Illinois' congressional delegation to take legislative and legal action against the proposal.

"It's outrageous that BP believes they are justified in polluting Lake Michigan by hiding behind the technicalities of the law," Garrett said. "As Illinois legislators we will be doing everything possible to stop this egregious dumping from taking place."

"I'm concerned about this because we should be finding ways to put less contaminant in our water, not more," Millner said. "Lake Michigan is our irreplaceable water supply. It's our drinking water, a tourist destination and a major part of our economic engine. Why should the EPA allow an Indiana plant to pollute the entire lake? There's no wall out there that keeps that pollution on the Indiana side of the line. We need to seriously consider our health and safety and stop this from happening."

"After years of working to keep our water clean and safe and our beaches open, BP's announcement to flood our lake with contaminants will push our efforts and progress backwards. That is just not acceptable," concluded Garrett.

The resolution, Senate Resolution 299, which may be read online at www.ilga.gov, explains the Senators' opposition to the Whiting, Indiana BP plant's plans to increase the discharge of ammonia into Lake Michigan by 54 percent and the discharge of sludge by 35 percent. Ammonia has been shown to promote algae blooms, which kill fish. The sludge deposited in the lake is comprised of concentrated heavy metals, among other unnatural materials.

The resolution was filed Thursday, July 19 in the Illinois Senate.