Judge's ruling may remove roadblock to oil refinery

A North Dakota judge has finalized his recent conclusion that state regulators don't have a say in the site of an $800 million oil refinery being developed near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, potentially clearing a major roadblock for the project.

An attorney for one of the environmental groups challenging the project says the judge's recommendation could set a bad precedent by effectively allowing developers to police themselves.

Administrative Law Judge Patrick Ward in a nonbinding recommendation last month said the Davis Refinery being developed by Meridian Energy Group won't have a large enough capacity to fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission.

The Environmental Law and Policy Center and Dakota Resource Council disputed that, noting that the project's permit from the Health Department allows construction of a facility big enough to warrant PSC review under state law.

Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/bakken/judge-s-ruling-may-remove-roadblock-to-oil-refinery/article_ab5f0fcc-98d2-537f-8b32-c647ed86bb10.html