Flint Hills Resources announced Tuesday it would shut down all processing operations at its North Pole refinery by June 1. In a statement, site manager Mike Brose said Flint Hills could no longer bear the burden of costs associated with groundwater and soil contamination he said was caused when Williams owned the North Pole refinery. Flint Hills purchased the North Pole refinery in 2004.
Despite the refinery closure, Flint Hills said it would still operate its terminals in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, with fuel supplied from a different source. Brose said his company would entertain offers for the North Pole refinery assets.
