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BP fires back
In yesterday's Chicago Tribune, BP bought a full page ad in the front section to share their side of the story of the Whiting refinery/Lake Michigan pollution issue. They have even set up a special Website just to discuss it.
(Personally, it strikes me as interesting that BP is apparently spending this money advertising to counteract what the Tribune is saying editorially. That's an interesting way of selling advertising. If called upon by our ad sales department, I'd could probably badmouth a company or two.)
The latest discussion is on the topic of mercury. Apparently BP is allowed to dump two pounds into the lake annually. Two pounds won't fill half my coffee mug, and depending on who you ask, hundreds of pounds of mercury go into the lake each year as a result of coal fired power plants. In the ad BP says, "Existing technology doesn't remove mercury to the current standard of 1.3 ppt. We will continue to evaluate emerging technology and, like other industries and municipalities that discharge water into the lake, we will work with regulators to reduce the mercury level."
I suspect this story has largely played out as far as public interest goes. Unless there is some big breakthrough, it will settle into the back pages as various negotiating processes come into play. When it is resolved, it will happen without fanfare. Companies in process industries like these things to happen quietly in ways that address the real issues but without political posturing. BP has some things to make up for, but they deserve appropriate opportunities to move ahead.
BP fires back
July 30, 2007
In yesterday's Chicago Tribune, BP bought a full page ad in the front section to share their side of the story of the Whiting refinery/Lake Michigan pollution issue. They have even set up a special Website just to discuss it.(Personally, it strikes me as interesting that BP is apparently spending this money advertising to counteract what the Tribune is saying editorially. That's an interesting way of selling advertising. If called upon by our ad sales department, I'd could probably badmouth a company or two.)
The latest discussion is on the topic of mercury. Apparently BP is allowed to dump two pounds into the lake annually. Two pounds won't fill half my coffee mug, and depending on who you ask, hundreds of pounds of mercury go into the lake each year as a result of coal fired power plants. In the ad BP says, "Existing technology doesn't remove mercury to the current standard of 1.3 ppt. We will continue to evaluate emerging technology and, like other industries and municipalities that discharge water into the lake, we will work with regulators to reduce the mercury level."
I suspect this story has largely played out as far as public interest goes. Unless there is some big breakthrough, it will settle into the back pages as various negotiating processes come into play. When it is resolved, it will happen without fanfare. Companies in process industries like these things to happen quietly in ways that address the real issues but without political posturing. BP has some things to make up for, but they deserve appropriate opportunities to move ahead.
Posted by Peter Welander on July 30, 2007 | Comments (0)
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