Wisconsin LCV: Public Outcry Causes BP to Reverse Pollution Plan

For Immediate Release Contact: Anne Sayers, Program Director

August 24, 2007 608-661-0845 (wk) or (608) 658-0186 (cell)

Madison- Today, the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters joined others across the

region in commending British Petroleum for listening to the immense public outcry from

Great Lakes residents. Their decision to forgo plans to dump a dramatically increased

amount of ammonia and toxic sludge into Lake Michigan, despite having a permit to do

so, is the right course of action.

“The current decision by BP does not change the fact that they still hold a permit to

increase toxic discharge into the Lake Michigan. While there is certainly cause to

celebrate today, we will remain vigilant in monitoring the BP’s actions in the future,”

said Anne Sayers, Program Director for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters.

The overwhelming public opposition since the announcement of BP’s dumping plan was

not surprising given the importance of the Great Lakes to citizens in the region – from

our economic reliance on the Lakes to the value citizens place on the beauty of the Great

Lakes. Citizens in the region had already been actively speaking out against diverting

Great Lakes water to other states and countries, and BP’s plans to increase pollution were

yet another example of poor use of this valuable resource.

“The BP situation serves as a clear warning to other industries across the Great Lakes

region that might consider polluting our Great Lakes. Citizens simply won’t stand for

this type of polluting activity in our shared waters,” Sayers concluded.

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The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to

electing conservation leaders to the state legislature and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation

policies that effectively protect Wisconsin's public health and natural resources.