EDITORIAL: Don't bash big industries without looking in mirror

Times of Northwest Indiana

The wastewater discharge permit for U.S. Steel is becoming a political football just like the permit for BP's Whiting Refinery.

It's time to kick this habit. Indiana's reputation of a business-friendly environment must be protected.

The U.S. Steel draft permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management drew a harsh response from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency even before U.S. Steel officials knew about it. A Times reporter broke the news to the steelmaker.

In a letter to IDEM, the EPA said the draft permit might not meet state water quality antidegredation rules. The federal agency is the biggest fish in the pond, saying state environmental regulators can't issue these permits without the EPA's approval.

IDEM noted earlier this month that the pollution limits in the draft permit are more stringent than the existing permit.

Yet the EPA is arguing over the terms of an improved permit.

Illinois politicians are fueling the U.S. Steel permit controversy. Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel sent a joint letter to the EPA urging it to "consider the concerns of regional stakeholders."

A more sensible voice is that of U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., who urges the EPA to seek a "constructive solution" to the permit process.

Big industries can have big environmental impacts. But so can individuals.

Instead of blindly bashing industries, people should look at their own actions to see how they collectively affect the environment. Go to www.nwi.com/green for examples.

In the aggregate, people make a big difference.

Don't go soft on industries, but don't criticize steelmakers without making appropriate personal lifestyle choices as well.