Yesterday the Flint Hills Refinery located in North Pole announced it is shutting down operations in the coming months. The refinery employs more than 125 Alaskans between the Port of Anchorage and its North Pole operations.
There’s been debate over who should be responsible for groundwater contamination on the site, whether the cleanup should have been handled by the State, the current owner, or the previous owner, Williams.
Rep. Tammie Wilson of Fairbanks/North Pole said “Unrealistic expectations by the DEC played a major role in the closing. The ripple effect of this tragedy will be felt by the entire community.”
Rep. Doug Isaacson said the effect of losing “81 refinery jobs means 800 jobs are affected. The railroad that will lose substantial revenue and the communities that will hurt significantly.”
Governor Sean Parnell directed the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to be an immediate resource to those workers affected.
Congressman Don Young responded to Flint Hills’ announcement by saying that this should be a time for expanded energy production and this action should open our eyes to the current environment of the energy sector.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski added her frustration and “reached out to the Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. to ensure that the loss of the refinery won’t impact the integrity of the trans-Alaska pipeline.“
