INDIANAPOLIS | Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday joined the growing chorus of politicians and environmentalists calling for Indiana to reconsider a new wastewater permit allowing BP's Whiting oil refinery to release more pollutants into Lake Michigan.

In a statement, Blagojevich urged Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels to rescind the permit and threatened to pursue legal action if the increased pollution allowances remain in place.

"We've been working hard to reverse the toll that years of neglect and pollution have taken on one of our region's most valuable natural resources," Blagojevich said. "But BP's decision to increase the amount of pollutants it dumps into Lake Michigan is a major setback in our efforts to clean up the lake."

Blagojevich joins the Save the Dunes Council in calling for direct action from Daniels. Save the Dunes President Susan Mihalo said the Michigan City-based environmental group began circulation petitions in Northwest Indiana last weekend and already has collected more than 1,000 signatures online.

"We are all speaking to Governor Daniels at this point, urging him to take action," Mihalo said. "It goes to his doorstep, ultimately, and he has been strangely silent on it."

Daniels' office did not directly respond Tuesday to question about the permit. But Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly issued a statement saying the BP permit will not be altered.

"IDEM's wastewater permit for BP's Whiting Refinery fully complies with the federal Clean Water Act and assures the full protection of Lake Michigan," Easterly said. "During the review process, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also performed an exhaustive analysis and concurred that the permit met federal standards. The BP permit stands approved as written."

The permit, which BP says is needed to proceed with a $3 billion plant expansion, allows the refinery to increase daily ammonia output 54 percent and release 35 percent more suspended solids -- silty materials leftover after wastewater is treated and filtered. While significantly greater than current levels, the increased discharges still fall within federal limits.

Mihalo said Indiana officials must better explain why they didn't force BP to build a larger water filtration plant or take other steps to limit water pollution increases.

IDEM officials will be called to answer those questions at an Aug. 22 hearing in Indianapolis scheduled by state Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City.

"If anyone in our country is not hurting for resources, it's the oil companies," Pelath said Tuesday. "Many do not understand why (BP) needs breaks on environmental compliance. Quite frankly, neither do I."