EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Series of recent events causing toxic pollution at the BP refinery in Whiting prompted a large turnout for a meeting last night that was cancelled, causing outrage.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management was set to hear from the public about BP’s air permit. The meeting had already been scheduled when there were tank leaks, sending toxic vapors into the air, and then a power outage that resulted in the burn-off of gas, sending thick smoke into the air.
Allen Carter, with the Department of Environmental Management, trying to speak there, said the meeting was cancelled by the school district.
"We were committed to work with the school system to open these doors, to allow people in," he explained. "They made the decision that they don't want to do that."
"Can you talk to the community?," one woman asked.
Another said: "We have questions."
"The community and media has every right to be outraged this meeting was cancelled. This is an extremely consequential permit on the local level and on the global scale," Susan Thomas, a spokesperson with Just Transition NWI, said in a statement to WBBM.
"The recent BP emergencies with little to no communication to the public deserved urgent attention with so many questions still unanswered."
"IDEM permitting staff came to East Chicago prepared to engage with the public and answer questions about BP's permit renewal application. We are disappointed that this opportunity was not provided last night," said IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess in a statement.
"Community involvement and transparency is a vital component of the governmental process and IDEM is committed to providing opportunities for engagement that include the public and the media."
The statement also said that just before Thursday's meeting was set to begin, the school district superintendent informed IDEM staff that he had concerns about proceeding with the media present and "discussions with IDEM representatives regarding the need for media access proved unproductive, with the superintendent ultimately denying media and public access to the building and canceling the meeting."
IDEM plans to reschedule the public meeting and is currently looking for venues in the area. A specific date, time, and location will be announced at a later date. Once the meeting is scheduled, the details can be found at idem.IN.gov/public-notices.
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