Refinery Question

sdcoyote · Tar Sands Joined: May 24, 2005 Posts: 56

I moved to Vermillion SD several years ago to set up a small farm and teach at the local university. Fortunately everything worked out extremely well - we are happy and even adopted a couple of little ones some time back...

Now enters a problem on the horizen of our little shangrila...

Hyperion Energy, who has never built a refinery before, is getting ready to build one very near where we live and farm. It is to be huge - 400,000 bpd - the 6th largest in the nation. The oil they are going to refine is coming from a pipeline out of Canada (tar sands) which I understand is quite difficult to refine and quite dirty.

We are now trying to decide whether to sell and move or hold on. With two little ones, a dairy cow, chickens, garden, and 2 horses I am at a loss as to what we should do. I am sure the refinery will pollute and release harmful chemicals, but on the other hand, we have the perfect set-up right now.

Does anyone on here live near a refinery? Especially one that refines only tar sands? If so, could you let me know the conseqences of staying?

pup55 · Expert Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 3590

Port Arthur TX

Better move upwind.

Note: The friendly residents of South Dakota might be a lot more insistent than the poor blacks down in Port Arthur about making the local refineries toe the line as far as emissions controls, etc.

However, once again, there are plenty of people around who will accept a screwed up ecosystem for a few jobs moving into the area, so you may be outvoted.

frankthetank · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Refinery Question

If you live WEST of the refinery, I wouldn't worry too much. Prevailing winds out there are most W/S/N depending on the season. Not too many days with an EAST wind. I'm guessing it'll be pretty dirty, with plenty of juicy toxins.
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"Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07

Ferretlover · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: Refinery Question

How close are they going to be to you?

The refinery where my DH works has bought up quite a bit of farmland around it.
And, since refineries are under "the protection" of Homeland Security, if you live close, be prepared to be investigated.
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"RRrrruuuunnnn!!!" ~Apocalypto

joeltrout · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Refinery Question

If you decide to move I would hold onto your land before selling right away.

If the refinery does get built it will bring new jobs and new money into the area thus increasing your property value.

Then sell for more of a profit.

I also live a couple of miles from 2 refineries here in Los Angeles and they dont have any problems mainly due to the extreme standards the city hold them to.

Growing up in New Mexico I also lived near a refinery and it smelled bad but other than that it was fine. Mostly surrounded by agricultural fields that had no ill effects.

joeltrout
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ENERGY is the basis of our industrial civilization and sustains our standard of living. It is the foundation stone of our national wealth. A nation starved of energy.....will be a nation of starving people.