Left out and forgotten? Refinery's health risks.

The ArgusLeader missed a chance to explain the risks of air pollutants when it published an article about the South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment upholding an air quality permit for the construction of a new oil refinery.

Reporter Peter Harriman's detailed and informative article summarizes opposition arguments and explains the potential economic benefits of the new refinery, which will be the first one built in the United States since 1976. But he doesn't mention the potential impacts on the surrounding environment and human health.  Air pollution from the refinery will affect parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

The proposed refinery will convert petroleum coke – a naturally occurring mixture of oil, its degradation products and sand – into diesel and jet fuel. A planned power plant will generate electricity. Once finished, the entire project is estimated to generate 1,800 permanent jobs. 

To reduce emissions, Hyperion is required to use the “best available control technology” (BACT), but the US Environmental Protection Agency only requires the company to comply with the least stringent methods because the state's total air emissions are low.

Emissions from the refinery will add tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere as well as other environmental pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. It will more than double South Dakota's annual emissions of 15.1 million tons of carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide also contribute to acidic precipitation, giving rise to acid rain that falls on land and water, damaging plants and aquatic life. 

Aggravating or creating health problems is also a concern. Children, elderly and people with asthma are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and small particulate matter increase the incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Benzene and other organics are linked to an increased risk of cancer. A new study shows that people in Alberta, Canada, who live near one of the largest tar sands development in the world, have increased cancer rates from activites associated with removing the petroleum coke that will fuel the new refinery.

Air pollution has extensive environmental and health impacts for those living in surrounding areas near its sources – in this case, the proposed oil refinery. Reporters should not forget to include these in articles about emission issues.