"BP will spend more than $400 million to significantly reduce noxious air pollution from its massive refinery in northwest Indiana, the company announced today in a settlement with federal authorities and environmental groups that could set a precedent for oil companies nationwide."

"Steps that BP agreed to take and equipment it promised to install at the nation's 6th-largest refinery should help relieve problems with lung-damaging soot and other air pollution throughout the Chicago area.

The deal resolves a nearly decade-long legal battle over a $3.8 billion upgrade and expansion of BP's Whiting refinery to process heavy crude oil pulled from tar-soaked clay and sand in Northern Canada."

Michael Hawthorne reports for the Chicago Tribune May 23, 2012. [2]