Company denies skirting law with refinery near national park
BISMARCK, N.D. — The developer of a proposed oil refinery near picturesque Theodore Roosevelt National Park on Tuesday told North Dakota regulators that the company isn’t trying to skirt state permitting law, though opponents say questions remain about the true scope of the project.
The state Public Service Commission questioned Meridian Energy Group officials during an informal meeting on why the company’s production capacity for the Davis Refinery is listed at 49,500 barrels per day — just under the 50,000-barrel threshold that triggers a PSC siting review.
Such a review, which can take months and cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars, ensures a proposed project is a good fit for the area’s environment and residents. Some opponents believe the company is trying to avoid a review because it might reveal the proposed site near the park isn’t good for the region.
While the company is within the law, “it doesn’t sit well with folks,” Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said. “Let’s be honest. It looks like you’re just barely skirting the siting requirements.”
More: http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/eagle-ford-energy/article/Company-denies-skirting-law-with-refinery-near-12442558.php
In this Wednesday, May 24, 2017 photo, a bison munches grass in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota.