The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold a public informational meeting, to be immediately followed by a public hearing, on a proposed air permit for the BP oil refinery in Whiting this Friday.

The meeting and hearing will be from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hammond Civic Center, 5825 South Sohl Ave., Hammond. The informational meeting will be at 5:30 p.m., and the public hearing will be at 6:30 p.m.

Environmentalists say the proposed air permit will result in increased emissions of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and lead, as well as a 50 percent increase in carbon dioxide.

The air permit, like the highly disputed water discharge permit that BP sought last year, is part of the oil refinery’s expansion plans to allow additional processing of Canadian crude oil.

IDEM will provide information about the proposed air permit during Friday’s informational meeting. It will then take written and oral comments during the hearing that follows.

The public also has until March 21 to submit written comments.

The meeting and hearing were originally scheduled for Feb. 25, but IDEM rescheduled the date to this Friday. IDEM first announced the hearing earlier that month, on Feb. 5, prompting outcry that the agency wasn’t giving the public enough time to review the permits. Among those who protested the original February date was Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigen, who wrote the IDEM a letter on behalf of Illinois requesting more time for the public.

Following Friday’s public hearing, the public can submit comments on the air permit to: IDEM, 100 N. Senate Ave., Mail Code 61-53 IGCN 1003, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251. Comments may also be emailed to

mmoulik@idem.in.gov

IDEM will provide a response to comments with the final permit decision to those who provide their name with a valid address.

The proposed permit is available for public review at www.idem.in.gov

The proposed permit and permit application is also available for review at the Whiting Public Library, IDEM’s Northwest Regional Office, 8315 Virginia Street, Suite 1 in Merrillville, and IDEM’s office in Indianapolis.

Posted 3/11/2008