Refinery group brought Wyoming "critical infrastructure" fight

A trade association representing oil refineries and petrochemical manufacturers across the country brought the controversial critical infrastructure bill to Wyoming, said lobbyist Matt Micheli.

The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, brought the bill to Micheli’s law firm Holland & Hart last year, Micheli told WyoFile. The law firm subsequently asked then-Sen. Leland Christensen (R-Alta) and other lawmakers to introduce it last year.

The measure sparked a fierce debate between industry advocates and tribal advocates and environmentalists. Some private landowners, including several legislators, joined the debate last year, saying its broad language might snare them inadvertently and saddle them with fines and criminal records. The debate is stretching now into its second year.

Both Holly Frontier and Sinclair Oil Company, which operate large refineries in Wyoming, are members of the association represented by Holland & Hart.

Read more: https://www.wyofile.com/refinery-group-brought-wyoming-critical-infrastructure-fight/