OCR Text |
Show Refinery permit request gets public disapproval By JAMS STUART WOODS CROSS -The meeting room at City Hall was packed with concerned citizens when a public hearing was held before the Woods Cross City Planning Commission to consider a conditional use permit request from Crysen Refining Inc. to operate a petroleum refinery. The refinery is in an M-2 zone, owned by Caribou Four Comers Refinery and will be leased by Crysen Refinery, at approximately 1600 W. 1500 S. The citizens of Woods Cross presented a united front in opposition oppo-sition to the permit allowing another an-other refinery to operate in their neighborhood. The group came to the meeting prepared with written statements, petitions and speeches to present their side of the issue. Although sentiment was strong, the citizens were controlled in their presentations and made fact-reinforced fact-reinforced statements to the com- missioners. Harry McSwain of Maverik Country Stores, Inc., made the presentation pre-sentation requesting the conditional use permit for Crysen Refinery, and then residents made statements. McSwain was responsive to questions ques-tions from members of the audience and from the commissioners. Phyllis Dennis of the commission asked, "Is there contamination on the property at this time? McSwain answered, "Yes, there are some traces of contamination. We are interested in trying not to promote further liabilities. We are developing a monitoring program with the assistance of professional people to determine what should be done in the area. " Woods Cross resident LaMoyne Anderson went before the commission commis-sion to ask, "Is this a new request or a continuation of the request made in July of 1978?" Commissioner Lincoln Haacke explained, "It is a continuation of -fr CONTINUED ON PG.2 Conditional use permits CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 the request for a conditional use permit made last July." "Have all requirements requested re-quested of Crysen Refinery made at that time been met?" continued Anderson. "There were nine requirements made after the original request," said City Administrator Bret Wahlen. After discussion between the commissioners, Maverik representatives rep-resentatives and Wahlen, it was determined de-termined that the nine requirements had been completed. As members of the audience spoke, it was clear that they were united in their opposition to the permit being granted. Anderson concluded his statements by saying, "I want to go on record as being opposed to the conditional use permit. We have ovcrflooded Woods Cross with refineries. The air pollution is fero-: cious and unbearable at times. One citizen requested the denial of the permit until the commissioners commis-sioners could consult a doctor to determine de-termine if the plant will have a harmful effect. "No matter what precautions are taken, there is a potential danger there. Even if the company carries $40,000,000 insurance, that money doesn't equal one life," claimed a resident. "We were in California during an earthquake, and the pipelines were extremely dangerous to families and little children because of explosions and fires." Another citizen pointed out that the fire budget for Woods Cross would be affected because with the extra load of the refinery, the cost of fire protection would go up. Other statements concerned the oil that was spilled the last time a refinery on that site was in operation. opera-tion. No one had been able to determine de-termine the cause of an oil leak that saturated the ground. Bruce Borrow man of the commission com-mission asked, "Why hasn't the issue of expansion on the current Crysen site been discussed? Why is there a need to move to the new site at Caribou? ' McSwain stated, "The current facility would be very crowded. The process could possibly be handled at the current location, but it would be so much better to have some working room.' LeGrande Blackley of the commission com-mission made a motion to look into the matter further and to continue until the next regular planning commission meeting. The motion was passed by a unanimous vote. The next scheduled meeting of the planning commission will be on Feb. 27 at 7 pm at Woods Cross City Hall. |