JOURNAL EXCLUSIVE: Hyperion balks at pollution-control requirement
By Meagan Sexton, msexton@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Saturday, November 08, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. -- Hyperion Refining is fighting a state requirement to add $23.5 million worth of pollution-control equipment on the $10 billion oil refinery the company wants to build in rural Union County.
Texas-based Hyperion says the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources is being unreasonable by requiring that 60 storage tanks be equipped with thermal oxidizers to trap and incinerate vapors from volatile compounds.
DENR spokesman Kim Smith said the agency can't comment on any aspect of its draft air-quality permit for the refinery because of legal issues.
Hyperion has requested a contested-case hearing on the draft permit, which was published Sept. 11 and is in the public comment phase. A prehearing conference is set for Nov. 20 in Pierre.
Colin Campbell, an air quality expert for Hyperion, said the 400,000-barrel-a-day refinery would have appropriate emission and pollution controls in place, including thermal oxidizers in other areas such as loading racks and a wastewater treatment plant.
The company disagrees that the oxidizers are needed on the storage tanks, Campbell, of RTP Environmental in Raleigh, N.C., said.
Hyperion has said the refinery, which would be the first oil refinery built in the United States in more than 30 years, would be "among the cleanest, most environmentally friendly in the world," with overall emissions 80 percent lower than the average California refinery.
But Campbell said the requirement for thermal oxidizers on storage tanks would limit the company's flexibility in storage options.
"It's absolutely unprecedented that DENR would propose to require this," Campbell said.
Texas-based Hyperion says the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources is being unreasonable by requiring that 60 storage tanks be equipped with thermal oxidizers to trap and incinerate vapors from volatile compounds.
DENR spokesman Kim Smith said the agency can't comment on any aspect of its draft air-quality permit for the refinery because of legal issues.
Hyperion has requested a contested-case hearing on the draft permit, which was published Sept. 11 and is in the public comment phase. A prehearing conference is set for Nov. 20 in Pierre.
Colin Campbell, an air quality expert for Hyperion, said the 400,000-barrel-a-day refinery would have appropriate emission and pollution controls in place, including thermal oxidizers in other areas such as loading racks and a wastewater treatment plant.
The company disagrees that the oxidizers are needed on the storage tanks, Campbell, of RTP Environmental in Raleigh, N.C., said.
Hyperion has said the refinery, which would be the first oil refinery built in the United States in more than 30 years, would be "among the cleanest, most environmentally friendly in the world," with overall emissions 80 percent lower than the average California refinery.
But Campbell said the requirement for thermal oxidizers on storage tanks would limit the company's flexibility in storage options.
"It's absolutely unprecedented that DENR would propose to require this," Campbell said.
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AnnieO wrote on Dec 4, 2008 7:17 AM:
Union County Resident wrote on Nov 21, 2008 5:22 PM:
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
- Albert Einstein
There are never different results with you, and I'm quite sane - so why would I want to keep this up?
You seem to need doing this. I don't.
I don't give out personal information about myself on here. And I don't think you have any kids because Jade doesn't have children - or at least they aren't listed in his online biography. "
EPJeff wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:34 AM:
It appears debating is just not your thing. Why don't you find someone more on your level? I am crucifying you here. When all you can do is respond with statements like 'same old same old' it is evident you are out matched. Why do you think you can never point to an example or explain your responses? Take the rant example I used. I was able to point to specific posts of yours that were rants as well as explain what a rant it. You are at the 'he said she said' level of debating. A place where anyone can say anything without having to support their arguments. Like kids do. Do you have kids? My kids do that all the time when they argue with each other. Say all kinds of things but cannot support any of it.
I wish you the best of luck. "
Union County Resident wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:21 PM:
If you want to think that I'm Kathy Lessek, it makes no difference to me. She might not like it if she hears about it, but people on here know who you are so they can direct her to you if she wants to deal with you in person.
As far as the rest of the things you write - Same Old. Same Old.
You're a Legend in Your Own Mind. No one else cares. "
EPJeff wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:21 AM:
No I did not forget you said you did not live near the site. So what. Have you forgotten I said I have 4 kids. I wil just ignore that just like you did. You are definitely Kathy Lessek. The more I hear about her, the more certain I am. Tell me, what is different about what I have done hear than what you did?
My posts are lucid and articulate with a clearly defined purpose. That is not a rant or whining. Your posts are angry unfocused diatribes with no clear purpose. They often have serveral disperate points. You current posts has 2 unrelated points your last post had 8 points. That is ranting. You asked why I write essays, I have no choice in order to respond to your many issues. Slow down and try to focus on one issue at a time. If you do not want to use a separate post for each issue, at least split the issues into separate paragraphs. "