All-GOP ND Public Service Comm: Their Hands Are Tied Re. Oil Refinery 3 Miles From National Park
North Dakota utility regulators agreed Wednesday that plans for an oil refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park are out of their hands.
The Public Service Commission dismissed a complaint filed by environmental groups challenging Meridian Energy Group’s plans for a Billings County refinery in western North Dakota. In a unanimous decision, the commissioners sided with an administrative law judge’s recommendation issued last month.
Commissioners said their siting authority is subject to thresholds set in state law, which is 50,000 barrels per day for refineries. Meridian CEO Bill Prentice said in an affidavit that the company has “no current plans” to expand the Davis Refinery beyond 49,500 barrels per day.
“This is a close call. It’s a tough call,” said Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak. “All indications suggest that the company is developing plans to avoid the additional regulatory scrutiny required of a siting permit.” “But the fact remains that the PSC is a regulatory body and we must have subject matter jurisdiction to preside over any matter,” she added.
EDIT
https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/psc-dismisses-complaint-against-proposed-oil-refinery-near-national-park/article_5efe6bde-abb8-545c-8d8a-c28d6ca76393.html
