Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell says he is trying to save Flint Hills’ soon-to-be-shuttered North Pole refinery, despite critics’ accusations to the contrary. Flint Hills announced Feb. 4 it would close the refinery due to environmental costs and market conditions. The company said it could no longer bear the burden of costs associated with soil and groundwater contamination it blamed on the refinery’s previous owner. A sulfolane plume was found in groundwater beneath the facility in 2009, five years after Flint Hills purchased the refinery.
Shortly after Flint Hills’ announcement, Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) pressed Parnell to address the refinery site’s environmental issues. Former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski also made public statements criticizing Parnell’s administration for not doing enough to keep the refinery running. Parnell told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner last week the state’s environmental standards related to sulfolane levels in groundwater are under review.
Flint Hills seems unlikely to change its plan, but Parnell believes there is potential for a new owner to step in and successfully operate the facility. Flint Hills said it would entertain offers for the refinery’s assets.
