[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BAD POLLUTERS ACT (H.R. 3276)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2007

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to stand here today with 
(originals) and introduce legislation that will help protect the Great 
Lakes from harmful pollution that poisons our water and closes our 
beaches. The Great Lakes are the world's largest freshwater system and 
serve as a source of drinking water, food, jobs and recreation for more 
than forty million Americans. It is critical that we enhance our 
restoration efforts for this critical resource, not degrade the 
condition of the lakes even further.
  British Petroleum (BP) will soon begin a $3.8 billion expansion of 
its refinery facility in Whiting, Indiana. Based on a provision in the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005, BP is eligible for a tax credit that will 
allow them half of the capital expense costs in the first year of the 
expansion. This expansion currently includes a large increase of 
pollution into the Great Lakes. The facility was recently issued a 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit which 
will allow it to discharge an increase of 54 percent more ammonia and 
35 percent more sludge into Lake Michigan per day. This will total a 
combined increase of more than 1,800 pounds per day of these pollutants 
which strangle aquatic life and contribute to the increasing number of 
beach closures each year.
  While providing incentives to energy production and refinery 
expansion helps to lower gas prices and reduce our dependence on 
foreign oil, we must not do so at the expense of one of America's most 
treasured natural resources.
  That is why I am introducing the Bad Polluters Act which will deny 
the capital expensing tax credit to any refiner whose facility's NPDES 
permit allows for an increase in any pollutant above its 2006 levels 
into the Great Lakes. This will prevent companies, such as BP, from 
seeking to increase pollution into our drinking water. In order to 
claim this important tax credit, companies will be forced to search a 
bit harder for a new solution to water treatment. I urge my colleagues 
to support this legislation and join in the fight to protect our 
national treasure.