Visualizations : Chicago politicians pollution vs BP : For example, in ranting about the...

For example, in ranting about the relatively small amount of ammonia allowed into the lake, the critics ignore the fact that ammonia is not a bioaccumulative chemical. It breaks down in the water. If it didn’t, all the fish in the Great Lakes might have disappeared eons ago from swimming in their own urine.

Also conveniently missing from the debate is the context that could be provided by comparing BP with other industrial and city “dischargers.” According to the EPA, BP’s 4,925 pounds of suspended solids allowed a day compares with 16,630 at International Steel Group’s East Chicago plant and 121,861 at its Burns Harbor facility. Ispat Industries’ East Chicago plant is allowed 130,453 pounds, about 27 times BP’s limit. Chicago, of course, is on another planet, permitted 243,000 pounds, almost 50 times BP’s. Maybe Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who is threatening to sue BP, ought to sue himself. Except, I suppose that Chicago’s discharges don’t count because they aren’t into the lake; they’re just gifted to the Illinois river system.

Note also might be taken of the fact that no ammonia limits are imposed on a bunch of papermakers and cities such as Milwaukee and Green Bay. Chicago’s allowable ammonia discharge (from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) is 61,000 pounds, compared with BP’s 1,584.

Filtering the facts from the fallacies of BP controversy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0820byrneaug20,0,3340204.story