Study tabs Whiting refinery among tops for pollution
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A study from the Washington D.C.-based Environmental Energy Project cites the BP Whiting Refinery as a top polluter in the U.S. The environmental group said Thursday the northwest Indiana refinery is among the top five for selenium and nitrogen discharges out of more than 80 refineries nationwide.
The study, “Oil’s Unchecked Outflows,” says the Whiting refinery discharged more than 3,500 pounds of selenium and just over 574,000 pounds of nitrogen in 2021. Both pollutants can be toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
“That made the BP refinery the third worst in America for selenium pollution and fifth worst for nitrogen,” EIP spokesman Tom Pelton told our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana.
Click here to view the full report.
However, BP Media Relations Manager Christina Audisho told the publication the refinery operates within the limits of its water discharge permit and is “consistent with standards in the federal Clean Water Act.” She added the company also provides regular wastewater discharge reports to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
“Whiting will continue to operate consistent with its permit all as part of our commitment to safe, compliant and reliable operation, not just at Whiting Refinery, but at every facility BP operates around the world,” Audisho said.
IDEM added the refinery has not received any violations since 2019.
The BP Whiting Refinery is the company’s largest refinery in the world, and can process about 440,000 barrels of oil per day, according to the company’s website.
The refinery employs about 1,800 people at the 1,400-acre site.
You can read the full story from The Times of Northwest Indiana’s Bill Dolan by clicking here.