The North Dakota Department of Health Air Quality Division has granted a draft permit to construct the Davis Petroleum Refinery to Meridian Energy Group Inc. The next phase is a public information meeting followed by a public meeting on the draft Air Pollution Control Permit to Construct for the Davis Refinery.
The public comment period for the draft permit began December 8, 2017, and will end on January 26, 2018.
The information meeting and the public meeting will be held on January 17, 2018, beginning at 5:30 p.m. MT in the Dorothy Stickney Auditorium, May Hall, Dickinson State University, 291 Campus Drive, Dickinson.
“Public input is encouraged and welcomed,” said Terry O’Clair, director of the Division of Air Quality. “The Department of Health is committed to a thorough and transparent review process.”
After 45 days of public comment and inquiry, the Health Department will weigh any new considerations as it closes in on a final decision.
Meridian Energy Group, Inc. is proposing to locate this petroleum refinery approximately two miles west of Belfield in Billings County. The public information meeting and the public meeting will be held on January 17, 2018, beginning at 5:30 p.m. MT in the Dorothy Stickney Auditorium, May Hall, Dickinson State University, 291 Campus Drive, Dickinson.
Meridian Energy Group, Inc. is proposing to locate this petroleum refinery approximately two miles west of Belfield in Billings County.
Dan Hedrington, project manager, SEH, believes this project will set the industry standard for the oil and gas industry.
“This is a highly regulated project, this isn’t something you just decide on a whim that you are going to build a refinery,” Hedrington said. “What we’ve seen is the county (Billings County) has been very supportive of us. We’ve gotten through the zoning and the conditional use permits that are necessary.”
Hedrington added the water permit has been granted by the ND Water Commission and is in public comment phase as well. Hedrington believes the water permit will be awarded soon. The Davis Refinery will be using water from a non-potable water aquifer.
“We are just thrilled with the amount of support and the way people are looking at this as a great opportunity not only for the locals but also the country as a whole,” Hedrington said.
Public comments can be written and mailed to the North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Air Quality, 918 East Divide Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501-1947, or emailed to AirQuality@nd.gov.
Comments must be received during the public comment period to be considered in the final permit determination. The permit application, department analysis and draft Permit to Construct are available for review at the address above and online at www.ndhealth.gov/AQ/PublicCom.aspx. A copy of these documents also may be obtained by writing to the Division of Air Quality, calling 701.328.5188 or emailing AirQuality@nd.gov.
For more information on the Davis Refinery, contact Adam Williams, Meridian Energy Group, email awilliams@megicorp.com.
About the Davis Refinery
Meridian Energy is building a 49,500 bpd state-of-the-art crude oil refinery on over 700 acres of land near Belfield, N.D., in the heart of the Bakken. The property is in close proximity to oil and gas pipelines and major transportation highways. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line runs directly through the refinery site, facilitating the construction of a crude oil feedstock offloading and refined fuels uploading terminal.
The local government agencies and permitting authorities have embraced the projects as permanent job creators and a net contributor to the quality of life in the region. Because the permitting and approval processes are straightforward and streamlined, Meridian expects to have the initial plant operational in a little over two years from the first plancheck submittals. Meridian is now finalizing plans for an early 2018 groundbreaking.
