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U.S. NEWS Thursday 14 June 2018

N. Dakota OKs refinery construction near national park

By BLAKE NICHOLSON that generated more than
Associated Press 10,000 comments. The re-
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — view essentially concluded
North Dakota's Health De- that the refinery will be a
partment issued a permit minor source of pollution
Wednesday allowing con- and won't negatively im-
struction of an oil refinery pact the park. However,
about 3 miles (5 kilometers) after it's built, it will need to
from Theodore Roosevelt obtain an air quality per-
National Park, a project op- mit by proving it can meet
posed by several national state and federal air quality
and regional conservation standards. Compliance will
groups. be continually monitored.
The Davis Refinery still has "Not only do we do routine
other hurdles, but the per- inspections, we also require
mission to build that fol- them to put continuous
lowed a 1 ½-year state re- emission monitors on, and
view is a major victory for we can get that data at
the project planned by Me- any time," state Air Quality
ridian Energy Group, based Director Terry O'Clair said.
in California and North Da- Opponents worry about
kota. pollution in the 30,000-
"The confirming review by acre (12,000-hectare) park
the (state) was the most named for the former U.S.
thorough review I've been president who ranched in
involved with in my career," the region in the 1880s and
Senior Project Manager is revered for his advocacy
Dan Hedrington said. Me- of land and wildlife con- In this May 24, 2017, file photo, a bison grazes in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western
ridian CEO William Prentice servation. The park is the North Dakota.
said the state review "vali- state's top tourist attraction, Associated Press
dates" work the company drawing more than 700,000
has done ensuring the visitors annually. permit from the State Wa- the request. A hearing be- a review process that could
plant will be "the cleanest Opponents also question ter Commission to use un- fore an administrative law take up to six months. The
refinery on the planet." Meridian's production esti- derground water for the judge is set for October. company and state have
Several groups including mates. The company says refinery. Neighboring land- The project also needs a discussed the permit but
the Badlands Conservation the refinery will process owners are challenging a permit from the state Health the company has not yet
Alliance doubt that. Execu- about 27,500 barrels of oil recommendation from the Department to dispose of formally applied, accord-
tive Director Jan Swenson daily, with a production state engineer to approve wastewater underground, ing to the department.q
called it "a pretty sad day capacity of 49,500 barrels
for the state of North Da- per day — just under the
kota." 50,000-barrel threshold that
The National Parks Con- triggers a siting review by
servation Association, the the state's Public Service
Environmental Law and Commission. The company
Policy Center and the Bad- denies trying to skirt state
lands Area Resource Coun- permitting law.
cil issued a joint statement Supporters of the refinery
Wednesday condemning point to its potential impact
the decision. on the economy. It could
The permit decision can create 500 construction
be appealed to the Health jobs and permanent jobs
Department and then to for 200 people in the area,
state district court. while generating millions
Opposition groups said of dollars in local property
they were reviewing their taxes each year. Early es-
options. timates were that it would
There is no state require- cost more than $800 million
ment for an independent to build, though the com-
review. pany has made changes in
The state review included its plans since.
a public comment period The project still needs a