Purdue, Argonne to reveal waste treatment findings

HAMMOND, Ind. — Scientists with Purdue University Calumet and the Argonne National Laboratory are ready to announce their findings on ways to cut the flow of industrial pollutants into Lake Michigan.

They'll hold a briefing Tuesday at Purdue University Calumet's Hammond campus to discuss their work investigating technologies that could help BP reduce its wastewater discharges into the lake southeast of Chicago

The scientists began collaborating with BP in summer 2007 following an uproar over Indiana regulators' approval of a wastewater permit for BP. The company sought the permit for its $3.8 billion Whiting oil refinery expansion to process more heavy Canadian crude oil.

That angered environmentalists because it would allow the refinery to increase discharges of ammonia and suspended solids. BP later said it would find a way around those increases.