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Sierra Club Joins Local Groups Opposing Tar Sands Refinery

Case Updates:

November 21, 2008

The Sierra Club, in coalition with Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution and Save Union County, filed an extensive set of technical and legal objections to the proposed air permit for the "Hyperion" refinery project near Vermillion, South Dakota. This behemoth project would be sited right in the middle of prime farmland and would receive and process tar sands oil extracted from the boreal forests of Canada. This tar sands oil project is an environmental nightmare: in addition to the destruction of boreal forests and the industrialization of rural South Dakota, the end product of the refining process would have a carbon footprint approximately three times as high as regular gasoline. The project has met stiff resistance from local farming communities and families. The Sierra Club's Living River Group and Environmental Law Program have teamed up with the local citizens to mount a full bore challenge to this misguided project. As a result of Sierra club's advocacy, the regional EPA office has also filed comments against the proposed refinery.

To view the comments related to this case click here and here!

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