Tulsa’s Bad Smell Will Continue for the Foreseeable Future

[sgrizzle]

Griz, the article mentions that they are pumping nearly $200,000,000 to modernize the refinery.  That is this companies M.O.  Buy a refinery that someone is begging to unload on the cheap, pump in some money, profit.  Specifically my research indicates they want it to produce low sulfur diesel, of which there is a current shortage (hence diesel has been higher than gas since the low sulfur requirement).   You can't build new refineries anymore, but you can buy old ones and overhaul them.

I can't predict exactly what they will do, but this is an improvement over the status quo - which was to let it rot.

400 local jobs directly to the refinery and at least 400 ancillary jobs, most of them in fabrication, engineering, or other oil support jobs that pay well.  Throw in the residual effect that 800 good jobs has on retail and services, the tax base, etc.  That's a huge economic impact.

As for reclamation of the land, the very short answer is:  no.  It has been used to process oil for nearly 100 years.  Much of that time totally unregulated.   Without direct knowledge of THAT refinery, similar situations are hopelessly contaminated with heavy metals (remember leaded gasoline?), chemical leaching, and of course crude residue in the top 10-20 feet of soil.  The techniques used in the past had no consideration for the land they were sitting on and refineries are essentially prohibited from cleaning it up (all or nothing).

I don't know what the pollution impact of the refinery is, but if given the choice between the economic benefits of renovating it or having 200 acres of abandoned toxic wasteland - I think I'll keep the refinery.

I took from the phrase "the modernization will go forward" that he is talking about an existing modernization plan (which is Sinclair) and not the upgrade plan Holly announced.

[RecycleMichael]

I see the reports of the emissions from the refinery. The Sunoco refinery has had no notices of violations for a while. I am pleased with the current operation of the refinery. The environmental folk and the maintenence staff work very hard at staying in compliance.

Yes, it is a nasty business that in hindsight would not be that close to a downtown and residential neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the refinery was there first and many of the businesses and homes affected came as a result of the wealth it produced.

[FOTD]

I see the reports of the emissions from the refinery. The Sunoco refinery has had no notices of violations for a while. I am pleased with the current operation of the refinery. The environmental folk and the maintenence staff work very hard at staying in compliance.

Yes, it is a nasty business that in hindsight would not be that close to a downtown and residential neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the refinery was there first and many of the businesses and homes affected came as a result of the wealth it produced.

90 YEARS AGO.....YIKES!

[Hometown]

I see the reports of the emissions from the refinery. The Sunoco refinery has had no notices of violations for a while. I am pleased with the current operation of the refinery. The environmental folk and the maintenence staff work very hard at staying in compliance.

Yes, it is a nasty business that in hindsight would not be that close to a downtown and residential neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the refinery was there first and many of the businesses and homes affected came as a result of the wealth it produced.

Yes, refinery was early in our history and it helped create Tulsa's wealth but since this time laws regulating toxic emissions have come into existence and a consensus has formed that we should strive for a clean environment.  In earlier threads we have talked about some toxins created by refineries that are not monitored by the EPA that are carcinogens.  When we talk about bad smells the root of the concern is toxins harmful to our health.  And for those new to this issue that are unaware of our history, three Tulsa neighborhoods have brought lawsuits claiming deaths and other damages resulting from the refineries.

[Hometown]

How does the Sinclair refinery compare in age, toxicity, and likelihood of rehabilitation of the land?

The Sinclair refinery has the worse track record of the two.  They have announced ambitious plans to upgrade and lower toxic emissions but I'm concerned about two things, the faultering price of oil may dampen their plans and they have been fined repeatedly and I do not trust them to abide by their announcement.

[FOTD]

The Sinclair refinery has the worse track record of the two.  They have announced ambitious plans to upgrade and lower toxic emissions but I'm concerned about two things, the faultering price of oil may dampen their plans and they have been fined repeatedly and I do not trust them to abide by their announcement.

Demand for gasoline will be soft but oil and inflation are about to go crazy.

YES, THEY ANNOUNCE BS AND DO SOMETHING ELSE TO IMPRESS THE CITY AND IT'S PEOPLE. THEY POLLUTE THE RIVER AND HIDE IT. THEY HAVE NO INTEGRITY. THEY STINK (in more ways than one).

Happy Earth Day Wednesday

[FOTD]

What a tremendous a$$et this place is. A highly suspicious company...with fewer employees and little concern for the air you breathe. Stinkair!

"The inspectors were on site for six months and conducted this program thoroughly and professionally," Goodwin said in a statement. "We are addressing and will work to address the concerns found in the inspection. This will allow us to continue the safe operation of the refinery and build on our track record of safety."

Sinclair is already undertaking a $35 million environmental upgrade to satisfy an earlier federal settlement on air emission violations. The company, however, put a planned $1 billion expansion on hold due to what Goodwin called "external economics."

Sinclair officials would not comment on reports last week that the Utah parent company is seeking a buyer for its Tulsa refinery.

Sinclair Tulsa Refining Co. employs about 300 people and has a capacity of 65,000 barrels per day, according to reports. The nearby former Sunoco refinery, bought by Holly Corp. for $65 million earlier this year, is planning a $150 million environmental upgrade due for completion in 2011. "

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20090805_49_E1_Sincla16574&archive=yes

[Gold]

OSHA violation=/= environmental issue.

Get a freaking clue and quit stinking up the board.

[FOTD]

You need to get a clue....this purchase http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20091021_49_A1_TeCsei438057 just neutered  our RiverParks program .


" The Sinclair purchase makes a $150 million desulfurization project at the old Sunoco obsolete, while the $1 billion Sinclair expansion has been on hold for most of this year. " http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20091021_49_E1_TheSin983879

"you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" Bob Dylan (Brady Saturday Night!)

[cannon_fodder]

Not needed.

- Moderator

[Moderator]

In an effort to consolidate the refinery threads, please see:

Sinclair sold to Holly