Public is invited to comment on environmental assessment of proposed construction at Pine Bend Refinery

For release: Jan. 18, 2013

Contact: Contact: Alexis Donath, 651-757-2312

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Public is invited to comment on environmental assessment of proposed construction at Pine Bend Refinery

St. Paul, Minn. -- Flint Hills Resources has proposed the construction of two storage spheres, a rail loading rack, and an expanded rail car staging area at its Pine Bend refinery. As part of its responsibility to conduct environmental review of projects such as this, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed project. The EAW is a review of how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. The public is invited to comment on the EAW through Feb. 20, 2013.

The Flint Hills Resources refinery is located at the intersection of Highways 55 and 52 in the city of Rosemount in Dakota County. The refinery processes crude oil from western Canada. Products generated at the refinery include gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, jet fuel, petroleum coke, asphalt and elemental sulfur.

The proposed changes would allow Flint Hills Resources to store and distribute refinery-grade propylene that the refinery already generates. The project would not result in an increase in the refinery’s crude oil processing capacity. If approved, construction would take place between approximately April 2013 and September 2014.

The MPCA also expects to place the refinery’s air emissions permit on public notice at a later date. The draft air permit will also be open for public comment for 30 days. The MPCA may make changes to the draft air permit based on input received during the EAW public comment period and/or on new information gathered as part of the agency’s own review of the project.
 
Part of the purpose of the EAW is to help the MPCA determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more in-depth environmental review, is needed. The EAW must be completed before the MPCA can issue final permits for the project.
 
Comments on the EAW must be submitted in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2013, to Steve Sommer, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55151-4194, by email to steve.sommer@state.mn.us or by fax to 651-297-2343.
 
To request a copy of the draft EAW or to inquire about the environmental review process, call Sommer at 651-757-2746. The documents are also posted online at the MPCA’s EAW and EIS webpage.
 
Broadcast version:
 
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is inviting public comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a construction project at Flint Hills Resources’ Pine Bend refinery.
 
Flint Hills has proposed the construction of two storage spheres, a rail loading rack, and an expanded rail car staging area at the refinery. The project will not result in an increase in the refinery’s crude oil processing capacity.
 
For more information, visit the M-P-C-A website at www.pca.state.mn.us. Comments are being accepted through February 20.

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