Air permit just the beginning for refinery
By Meagan Sexton | Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. -- The draft preconstruction air-quality permit waiting for final approval from the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources is one step in a long process Hyperion Refining faces if it is to build a proposed $10 billion, 400,000-barrel-a-day oil refinery near Elk Point, S.D.
The Dallas, Texas-based company hopes to begin operations in 2014 but would need to apply for at least eight additional state and federal permits and comply with various reporting requirements along the way.
Some permits are needed before construction could begin; others could wait until the company started construction or the facility was fully operational.
Kyrik Rombough, natural resources engineering director for DENR, said in Hyperion's case, because the company has applied for the preconstruction air-quality permit, it wouldn't have to apply for a Title V air-quality permit until 12 months after operations started.
A Title V permit consolidates all state and federal air-quality regulations, and many of the conditions are established in the preconstruction air-quality permit. A Title V permit needs to be updated every five years.
Before starting construction, Hyperion would have to get a stormwater permit from DENR, said Kelli Buscher, natural resources engineering director for the agency's surface water quality program.
"Anybody that's disturbing over an acre with a construction project is required to take some steps to minimize any pollutants from coming off the site," Buscher said. "With a construction site, the thing we're primarily concerned with is sediment and dirt coming off the site during a storm event."
A separate permit regulating stormwater runoff would be required if the refinery begins operating.
Mark Mayer, administrator of DENR's drinking water program, said Hyperion would also need a certificate of approval for a nontransient, noncommunity drinking water system.
"That is a classification of a water system where it serves 25 of the same people every day but they're workers. They're not a community water system where people are living there," Mayer said.
The permit would require Hyperion to conform to all state and federal safe drinking water standards.
Hyperion would also have to comply with federal rules that govern oil-spill prevention and countermeasures, according to DENR spokesman Kim Smith. The rule requires operators to provide a security system for storage tanks so that in the event of a leak, harmful substances -- in this case, petroleum and oil -- would be contained.
In addition, Jim Johnston, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the company may have to apply for two federal permits if it intends to take water from the Missouri River.
Also needed would be a water-right permit from DENR, which is required for all water uses except reasonable domestic use.
A water-right permit allows the state to manage the use of its water resources and is subject to certain criteria. DENR must determine if water is available, ensure existing rights will not be impaired and decide if the proposed use is beneficial and in the public's interest.
Hyperion does not intend to apply for a solid-waste permit because it doesn't plan to dispose of waste at the refinery site. Hyperion spokesman Eric Williams said the company plans to use existing, permitted landfills and is considering a number of options in the region.
Vonni Kallemeyn, DENR's waste management program administrator, said the size of a proposed operation isn't likely to play a part in deciding whether to pursue a solid-waste permit.
"We think it is more related to the waste materials generated," Kallemeyn said. "Based upon our knowledge of the oil refining process, we don't think it's unusual that they would not pursue a solid-waste permit for the wastes likely generated at the facility."
Other permits and requirements that would apply to the refinery:
*Surface Water Discharge Permit: To protect water quality by ensuring that any discharge would not violate the surface water quality standards of the receiving stream.
* Hazardous Waste Disposal Requirements: To ensure hazardous wastes are properly handled and disposed of to protect public health and the environment. *SARA Title III Reporting: Businesses that store hazardous materials on site must report the amount of material stored or released from the site. Local emergency planners and state and federal entities would receive the reports. The purpose of the reporting is to provide the local community with information about the materials as part of the public's right to know and to allow for better emergency response preparedness.
*Ground Water Discharge Permit: Required for certain facilities that plan to discharge treated water back to the water's body of origin. The permit is needed to protect ground water quality by ensuring that any discharge will not violate ground water quality standards.
*Operator Certification: The operators of any drinking water treatment plant and wastewater treatment systems would need to be state certified.
*Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks: Any tank used to store petroleum or other regulated substances must comply with state and federal tank requirements.
The Dallas, Texas-based company hopes to begin operations in 2014 but would need to apply for at least eight additional state and federal permits and comply with various reporting requirements along the way.
Some permits are needed before construction could begin; others could wait until the company started construction or the facility was fully operational.
Kyrik Rombough, natural resources engineering director for DENR, said in Hyperion's case, because the company has applied for the preconstruction air-quality permit, it wouldn't have to apply for a Title V air-quality permit until 12 months after operations started.
A Title V permit consolidates all state and federal air-quality regulations, and many of the conditions are established in the preconstruction air-quality permit. A Title V permit needs to be updated every five years.
Before starting construction, Hyperion would have to get a stormwater permit from DENR, said Kelli Buscher, natural resources engineering director for the agency's surface water quality program.
"Anybody that's disturbing over an acre with a construction project is required to take some steps to minimize any pollutants from coming off the site," Buscher said. "With a construction site, the thing we're primarily concerned with is sediment and dirt coming off the site during a storm event."
A separate permit regulating stormwater runoff would be required if the refinery begins operating.
Mark Mayer, administrator of DENR's drinking water program, said Hyperion would also need a certificate of approval for a nontransient, noncommunity drinking water system.
"That is a classification of a water system where it serves 25 of the same people every day but they're workers. They're not a community water system where people are living there," Mayer said.
The permit would require Hyperion to conform to all state and federal safe drinking water standards.
Hyperion would also have to comply with federal rules that govern oil-spill prevention and countermeasures, according to DENR spokesman Kim Smith. The rule requires operators to provide a security system for storage tanks so that in the event of a leak, harmful substances -- in this case, petroleum and oil -- would be contained.
In addition, Jim Johnston, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the company may have to apply for two federal permits if it intends to take water from the Missouri River.
Also needed would be a water-right permit from DENR, which is required for all water uses except reasonable domestic use.
A water-right permit allows the state to manage the use of its water resources and is subject to certain criteria. DENR must determine if water is available, ensure existing rights will not be impaired and decide if the proposed use is beneficial and in the public's interest.
Hyperion does not intend to apply for a solid-waste permit because it doesn't plan to dispose of waste at the refinery site. Hyperion spokesman Eric Williams said the company plans to use existing, permitted landfills and is considering a number of options in the region.
Vonni Kallemeyn, DENR's waste management program administrator, said the size of a proposed operation isn't likely to play a part in deciding whether to pursue a solid-waste permit.
"We think it is more related to the waste materials generated," Kallemeyn said. "Based upon our knowledge of the oil refining process, we don't think it's unusual that they would not pursue a solid-waste permit for the wastes likely generated at the facility."
Other permits and requirements that would apply to the refinery:
*Surface Water Discharge Permit: To protect water quality by ensuring that any discharge would not violate the surface water quality standards of the receiving stream.
* Hazardous Waste Disposal Requirements: To ensure hazardous wastes are properly handled and disposed of to protect public health and the environment. *SARA Title III Reporting: Businesses that store hazardous materials on site must report the amount of material stored or released from the site. Local emergency planners and state and federal entities would receive the reports. The purpose of the reporting is to provide the local community with information about the materials as part of the public's right to know and to allow for better emergency response preparedness.
*Ground Water Discharge Permit: Required for certain facilities that plan to discharge treated water back to the water's body of origin. The permit is needed to protect ground water quality by ensuring that any discharge will not violate ground water quality standards.
*Operator Certification: The operators of any drinking water treatment plant and wastewater treatment systems would need to be state certified.
*Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks: Any tank used to store petroleum or other regulated substances must comply with state and federal tank requirements.
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Hmmmm wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:18 AM:
Hmmmm wrote on Nov 3, 2008 10:51 AM:
Hmmmm wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:47 AM:
Frank said Hyperion hopes to find as many as half of the construction workers locally. Due to a shortage of skilled laborers in the region, particularly those with refinery-related experience, the majority likely would come from outside the area, living and working here temporarily. "
Hmmmm wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:45 AM:
Engineers, computer programmers, quality control analysts, process operators, pipefitters and welders are among the highly skilled positions the energy center would require, Hyperion project executive J.L. "Corky'' Frank said. "
EPJeff wrote on Oct 28, 2008 12:58 PM:
One last thing. When I stated I say "Alice doesn't live here anymore" I was being sarcastic. That is why I said I tell people Alice is with Mel and Flo from the tv show Alice. Perhaps you are too young to know the show. It aired in the late 70s early 80s. People can think I am whoever they want, it makes no difference to me. "