Gorilla unfolds over 19 months
Posted: Thursday, June 05, 2008
Here are some key dates for Union County in the Hyperion refinery project.
Nov. 1, 2006 -- The Journal is the first to report that a mystery company is considering building a major manufacturing facility in Union County, S.D. Property owners have been approached by company agents wanting to buy options on their farmland.
April 11, 2007 -- The Union County register of deeds confirms that sales of options on eight parcels of agricultural land in the Spink, S.D., area have been registered for what's believed to be the same project, which local residents are calling Project Gorilla.
May 5, 2007 -- The Journal reports that Citizens for Union County group forms to block Project Gorilla, although members don’t yet know what it is.
May 25, 2007 -- A story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal focuses on the intense speculation regarding the mysterious project.
May 27, 2007 -- A copyright story in the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls provides clues by linking Texas-based energy firm Hyperion Resources to hyperionelkpoint.com, registered in October 2006, and hyperionsd.com, registered in April.
June 13, 2007 -- Hyperion Resources and South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds' office call a news conference in Elk Point to announce that Project Gorilla will be the first new oil refinery to be built in the United States since 1976 and that Union County is among sites being considered for the project.
July 27, 2007 -- Hyperion agents file purchase options, bringing total filings to 2,000.
Dec. 6, 2007 n Hyperion files application to rezone 3,882 acres of farm land; says it will use 8 million to 12 million gallons of Missouri River water a day.
Mid-December 2007 n Hyperion files 613-page preconstruction air-quality permit application with the state.
Jan. 16 n Union County Planning and Zoning Commission votes 4-1, after nearly six hours of public testimony, to amend the county zoning ordinance.
March 11, 2008 n Union County Board of Commissioners votes 5-0 to rezone 3,292 acres and imposes conditions.
March 14, 2008 n Refinery supporters Citizens for Hyperion begin circulating petitions to trigger countywide referendum on the zoning ordinance.
March 20, 2008 n Opposition group Save Union County Committee sues the county commissioners, alleging the rezoning is “a gross violation of the law.”
June 3, 2008 -- Union County voters say "Yes" 58 percent to 42 percent to Hyperion's rezoning request, clearing the way for the project to proceed.
Nov. 1, 2006 -- The Journal is the first to report that a mystery company is considering building a major manufacturing facility in Union County, S.D. Property owners have been approached by company agents wanting to buy options on their farmland.
April 11, 2007 -- The Union County register of deeds confirms that sales of options on eight parcels of agricultural land in the Spink, S.D., area have been registered for what's believed to be the same project, which local residents are calling Project Gorilla.
May 5, 2007 -- The Journal reports that Citizens for Union County group forms to block Project Gorilla, although members don’t yet know what it is.
May 25, 2007 -- A story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal focuses on the intense speculation regarding the mysterious project.
May 27, 2007 -- A copyright story in the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls provides clues by linking Texas-based energy firm Hyperion Resources to hyperionelkpoint.com, registered in October 2006, and hyperionsd.com, registered in April.
June 13, 2007 -- Hyperion Resources and South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds' office call a news conference in Elk Point to announce that Project Gorilla will be the first new oil refinery to be built in the United States since 1976 and that Union County is among sites being considered for the project.
July 27, 2007 -- Hyperion agents file purchase options, bringing total filings to 2,000.
Dec. 6, 2007 n Hyperion files application to rezone 3,882 acres of farm land; says it will use 8 million to 12 million gallons of Missouri River water a day.
Mid-December 2007 n Hyperion files 613-page preconstruction air-quality permit application with the state.
Jan. 16 n Union County Planning and Zoning Commission votes 4-1, after nearly six hours of public testimony, to amend the county zoning ordinance.
March 11, 2008 n Union County Board of Commissioners votes 5-0 to rezone 3,292 acres and imposes conditions.
March 14, 2008 n Refinery supporters Citizens for Hyperion begin circulating petitions to trigger countywide referendum on the zoning ordinance.
March 20, 2008 n Opposition group Save Union County Committee sues the county commissioners, alleging the rezoning is “a gross violation of the law.”
June 3, 2008 -- Union County voters say "Yes" 58 percent to 42 percent to Hyperion's rezoning request, clearing the way for the project to proceed.
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no fear wrote on Jun 6, 2008 7:08 AM:
UnCoGal wrote on Jun 5, 2008 12:34 PM:
DakotaCowboy wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:07 AM: