HAMMOND, IND. (CN) - BP Products North America ducked air-pollution laws by falsely claiming that a $4 billion expansion of its refinery in Whiting, Ind., would bring a "minor" change in emissions, the National Resources Defense Council claims in Federal Court.
The environmental group claims that BP used "demonstrably incorrect representations concerning the project's air emissions" to apply for, and get, a "minor source permit" for the enormous expansion that will greatly increase air pollution. "As a result, the project as currently permitted will result in emission of a substantially greater volume of air pollutants than the CAA [Clean Air Act] allows."
The NRDC demands an injunction and fines of $32,500 per day for each violation of the Clean Air Act. Its lead attorney is Kim Ferraro of Valparaiso.
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