Lawsuit filed challenging BP oil refinery plan

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An environmental group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state agency's air permit allowing BP to expand its refinery along Lake Michigan.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond by the Natural Resources Defense Council contends the $3.8 billion project needs a more stringent permit because of a significant increase in pollution the expansion will create. The lawsuit contends the project at the Whiting refinery will create more pollution than the federal Clean Air Act allows.

The lawsuit asks a judge to stop the expansion until BP meets the Clean Air Act requirements and assess a civil penalty against BP of up to $32,500 a day for each violation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last month approved the air permit issued to BP by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. BP began work on the expansion on May 1, the same day it got final state approval.