In a move that smells almost as ripe as a bad day in Superior, the Wisconsin DNR is proposing a draft permit that would legalize Murphy¹s license to break the sulfur limit, instead of cutting back on the sulfur dioxide and the stench.
If the permit itself stinks with the suggestion that Wisconsin might be cozying up to a corporation fat with profits to be plucked for politicians' purses, hang on to your nose. The timing of the permit smells even worse. Since early this spring, the USEPA has been dogging Murphy to bring its SO2 emissions into line with national standards. Correspondence between the EPA and Murphy documents a federal notice of violation for SO2 emissions and a full multi-media assessment of the refinery performed by EPA in preparation for a federal enforcement action.
All of which begs the question of why just when the Feds are closing in on this sulfur spewing dinosaur, the Wisconsin DNR is so eager to grandfather the refinery's privilege to break the sulfur limit.
Ironically, what's at issue is the amount of money an oil refinery has to spend on fuel. Today, Murphy uses the cheapest fuel they can find, #6 diesel oil. True, it's high in sulfur, but in the mid 1980's Murphy asked the DNR for what's called an "alternative emission limititation," permission to break the SO2 limit. That approval was granted in 1986. Why would the refinery rather fight than switch? Murphy holds that replacing this dirty fuel with one that would meet the standards for sulfur emissions - producing three to four times less SO2 when burned - just isn't cost effective.
A table in the new draft permit begs that question. True, at an annual cost of $2.5 million dollars, #6 diesel is by far the cheapest. But to eliminate sulfur, they could burn Natural gas. The DNR prices this out at $2.6 million dollars. Gas is pretty low in cost but, Murphy contends, supplies can be interrupted during times of peak usage. A non-interruptible, low-sulfur alternative would be a blend of #2 diesel and #6 diesel that would meet legal standards for sulfur emissions. DNR prices the annual cost of using this at $3.6 million dollars.
What makes it all so plausible is Superior¹s extremely clean air. A further test applied by the DNR in reviewing Murphy's permit proposed just how much pollution Superior can stand without raising red flags in the US federal Clean Air Act. In 1997 Murphy belched out nearly five thousand tons of SO2 into Superior's air. But because they're the only large scale SO2 source in the area, even this massive tonnage doesn't sound the alarm under Wisconsin¹s rules. To do that, Murphy's emissions would have to drive Superior's air to 75% of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard.
According to the DNR's analysis, even with Murphy spewing three to four times the legal limit for SO2, Superior still registers at less than 60%, well under the 75% threshold, providing a further argument for continued use of the high sulfur fuel.
Ultimately, the financial numbers are most revealing. If they'd cut the crude and switch to cleaner fuels, using natural gas, supplemented by a blend of higher grade fuel oils when their gas supply was interrupted, the increased cost could be as low as $250,000.00, less than a 20% increase in their fuel cost for this process. With the corporation's 1997 annual net income of $130 million dollars on revenues of $2.2 billion dollars, a quarter of a million looks more like pin money than a corporate budget buster.
Though its been going on for a decade, the DNR has never asked anybody what they thought about the refinery's special privilege for SO2. On October 21st in Superior, the Wisconsin DNR is holding a hearing to find out what people think about issuing Murphy a bona-fide permit to break the sulfur limit.
If you think its a bad idea; be there. Be there to ask why, if the USEPA is considering an enforcement action for Murphy's repeated violations of federal standards, Wisconsin is so anxious to issue a special one-of-a-kind permit to bust the sulfur limit. Be there to ask what is so impossible about forking over an extra few dollars to reduce sulfur emissions by three to four times. Be there to ask what else the refinery can do to reduce the stench of sulfur that hangs over Superior, Wisconsin.
If you can't be at the hearing, the DNR is also taking written comments until October 21st.
Though you may more colorful names for the permit, here is the name the DNR gives to the proposed permit:
ANALYSIS AND PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION FOR THE PROPOSED OPERATION PERMIT FOR THE OPERATION OF PROCESS HEATERS AND PROCESSES EMITTING SULFUR DIOXIDE FOR MURPHY OIL, LOCATED AT 2400 STINSON AVENUE, SUPERIOR, DOUGLAS COUNTY, WISCONSINWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesPermit # 95-SDD-120-OP
Facility ID # 816009590
For questions about the permit call or email:
Steve Dunn at:
608/267-0566
dunns@dnr.state.wi.us
For questions about Murphy Oil¹s history in Superior, call or Email:
Dan Rosenthal at:
715/392-7989
ROSEND@dnr.state.wi.us
Sources:
Wisconsin DNR
Murphy Oil