Halfway through a project to expand its oil refinery in Indiana, BP is coming under increasing fire from community and environmental groups and legislators for the potential pollution impacts of this expanded facility on the Great Lakes.

While the national spotlight recently has been on BP's disastrous spill in the Gulf of Mexico, local environmental groups, such as GCM's partner the Calumet Project, have been raising awareness about both the poor environmental track record of BP in Indiana and the increase in pollution from the refinery expansion, especially since they will be using dirtier tar sands crude oil.

As detailed in an article in the Michigan Messenger, the EPA cited BP in 2008 for excessive benzene releases going back 6 years. Benzene is a known carcinogen which causes leukemia. In 2009, EPA issued another notice for BP's flaring operations which violated air pollution control practices.

Beyond the track record, there is increasing concern about how the expanded operations will harm human health.

Last year, GCM and Calumet Project met with the US EPA to raise issues about the environmental justice impacts of increased pollution from the refinery expansion and the use of dirtier tar sands crude oil.

BP's application for an air permit to refine tar sands from Canada admitted that it would increase emissions of three pollutants by alarming amounts: Particulate Matter by 21%, Sulfur Dioxide by 20% and Lead by 25%. Also, the expansion will release 1.5 to 2 million tons more carbon dioxide greenhouse gas per year.

Particle pollution causes asthma attacks, strokes, heart attacks and premature deaths. Sulfur dioxide makes acid rain and also creates deadly, fine particles that reach deep into the lungs. Lead can damage the kidneys, affect hearing, lower IQ, can result in delinquent behaviors, and the damage is permanent. The area is already over burdened with pollution.

An appeal of the permit based on environmental justice, filed by GCM and the Calumet Project, is currently as well as legal action concerning BP's commencement of the expansion construction without proper permits. In addition to having created the community pressure to stop the siting of an asphalt plant, the Calumet Project continues to use Bucket Brigades to sample the air.