Penalties being review over Indiana refinery spill

WHITING, Ind. - The Coast Guard says its report on the oil spill from BP's northwestern Indiana refinery has been sent for a review of whether the company will face any penalties.

Crews spent several days cleaning up oil along the Lake Michigan shoreline after the company says up to some 1,600 gallons of oil was discharged into the lake from a March 24 malfunction at the Whiting refinery.

Coast Guard Lt. Brian Dykens tells The Times of Munster a hearing officer in Washington will decide within a month whether BP will face any fines, penalties or corrective actions for the spill.

BP spokesman Scott Dean says its investigation into the spill's cause is focusing on a now-removed connection between a crude distillation unit and the cooling water system.