BP Whiting Hit With Record Setting Penalty For Pollution

BP Products of North America in Whiting was issued a record setting $40 million dollar penalty from the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice due to violating the Clean Air Act. In October of 2019, inspectors from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) observed multiple violations at the facility, which resulted in a civil case being filed against the company.

According to the complaint, BP allegedly “violated federal regulations limiting benzene in refinery wastewater streams, and HAP and VOC emissions at its Whiting Refinery, as well as the general requirement to use good air pollution control practices.”

Benzene is a known carcinogen.

“This settlement advances my office’s environmental justice initiative by providing cleaner air and reducing the negative health impacts on the low income and minority residents who live near BPP’s refinery,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “My office is committed to continuing to enforce the nation’s environmental laws so that all residents of Northern Indiana can live, work and play in a cleaner, healthier environment.”