Durbin and Emanuel Statement on EPA Decision to Hold Hearing on U.S. Steel Permit

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) today released the following statement just a day before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is schedule to hold a hearing on Indiana's draft wastewater discharge permit for U.S. Steel Corporation's plant in Gary, Indiana.

"We applaud the EPA for objecting to a permit that would allow the US Steel Gary Works facility to avoid compliance with Clean Water Act standards for another five years. Additional pollutants in Lake Michigan would threaten a national treasure that provides safe drinking water to over one million people. Because of the efforts of various groups and legislators, concerned residents of Illinois and Indiana will be heard tomorrow.

"Earlier this year, we brought BP to the table and asked them to stop plans to dump more pollution into the Lake. We put pressure on a company to do what is right and they responded. Now, we are asking US Steel to do the same. It should be made clear that creating economic opportunity should go hand in hand with protecting the environment."

On October 17, Durbin, Emanuel and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) sent a letter to the EPA Region 5 Administrator, Mary Gade calling for a public hearing on the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) permit for U.S. Steel Gary Works.

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