Judge will review complaint over refinery near national park
BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota regulators are enlisting an administrative law judge to help untangle some of the legal questions surrounding whether an oil refinery can be built near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The Public Service Commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 to have the state Office of Administrative Hearings designate a judge to make a non-binding recommendation on whether a complaint over the $800 million Davis Refinery should be dismissed.
The judge won’t weigh in on whether Meridian Energy Group can build at the site 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the park, but his recommendation could make it more difficult for the company to do so.
Meridian in July began site work for the refinery it hopes to begin operating in 2020, after obtaining permission from the state Health Department to begin building. Meridian maintains the plant will have modern technology and will be “the cleanest refinery on the planet,” and supporters say it will boost the area’s economy.