Sioux City Journal

Data doesn't support claim

Posted: Thursday, May 22, 2008

VERMILLION, S.D. -- Hyperion tells us it will be 80 percent cleaner than the average of California refineries. However, data in the May 18 Journal suggests they will actually be 70 percent dirtier than the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, Calif.

The Journal article lists the (2006) carbon monoxide emissions of the El Segundo refinery as 765 tons per year. In its air permit, Hyperion lists its carbon monoxide emissions as 1,999 tons per year.

The El Segundo refinery processes 260,000 barrels per day while Hyperion will process 400,000 barrels per day. Thus the El Segundo refinery processes 65 percent of what Hyperion will process. To equal the El Segundo refinery, Hyperion should emit only 1,177 tons per year. Hyperion is not even close to equaling the carbon monoxide emissions of this plant, let alone being 80 percent cleaner. In fact, they are 70 percent dirtier.

It’s easy for them to claim they will be 80 percent cleaner. The data so far does not support the claim. -- Vicki Fix

Story Comments

smiley wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:03 PM:

" Carmen i have worked in this field for 20 yrs at differant levels and in several fields. "

Pariah wrote on Jun 6, 2008 6:09 AM:

" No Mark S. You are as dumb as the rest of them aren't you *shakes head* I was pointing out Lee S. and his completely incorrect and rude comments about the carbon cycle directed at the author of this letter. I really don't care about the incinerator (I don't even know much about it). I care that you people are so mind bogglingly uninformed. Again the carbon cycle is NOT up for debate it IS FACT. "

Mark S wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:58 AM:

" Loosing the election surer seems to put Parah, annieO smiliey, and Flimflam off of their game. Congratulations Union County for making the correct decision. A decision that is right for Union County, right for Siouxland, and right for America. "

Sarah wrote on Jun 4, 2008 5:19 AM:

" Union County Wins!! Union County WinS!! Union County Wins!! "

Paul G wrote on Jun 3, 2008 6:47 PM:

" Pariahs problem is that he does not know how to convert Kilograms to pounds. If he did, he would have seen that Lee S is correct, and this thread would be about half as long as it is now. "