Rep. Proos offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No.

            A resolution to express opposition to the increased discharge of pollution into Lake Michigan from the British Petroleum refinery at Whiting, Indiana.

            Whereas, The Great Lakes are a national treasure and a globally unique natural resource holding around 20 percent of the world's surface freshwater supply. Michigan and the other states and Canadian provinces that border the Great Lakes depend on them for drinking water and to support billion dollar manufacturing, agricultural, and recreational industries; and

            Whereas, Discharges into the Great Lakes originating in any state or province can impact water quality and fish and wildlife in the other states and provinces. Therefore, the Great Lakes states and provinces hold a shared responsibility to prevent the dumping of pollutants into the lakes that could degrade water quality and threaten public health, recreation, and the quality of life in the region; and

            Whereas, The Indiana Department of Environmental Management issued, with the approval of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a permit that would allow the British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Whiting, Indiana, to increase significantly polluted discharges into Lake Michigan; and

            Whereas, Dumping thousands of additional pounds of ammonia and suspended solids in the lake could threaten drinking water quality for millions of people, negatively affect fish and wildlife, and compromise the billion dollar recreational and tourism industries that depend on clean water in neighboring states like Michigan; and

            Whereas, Clearly, BP has the financial resources to install additional water treatment systems that would remove the need to increase dumping into Lake Michigan. BP reported more than $6 billion in profits during the last quarter. Current plans for water treatment upgrades will only comprise $150 million or 4 percent of the $3.8 billion expansion at the refinery; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we express opposition to the increased discharge of pollution into Lake Michigan from the British Petroleum refinery at Whiting, Indiana; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and the Governor of the state of Indiana.