Public hearing to be held on Superior oil shipping terminal project

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to hold a public hearing in Superior on Tuesday, November 26. The hearing will be an opportunity to discuss a permit which would allow Superior-based Elkhorn Industries to repair a dock on the bed of the St. Louis River for future use as an oil shipping terminal.

Elkorn Industries is working with the Calumet Superior Refinery to renovate the terminal, which will use it as a shipping base for moving crude oil from the Enbridge pipeline across the Great Lakes. Oil in the Enbridge pipeline is sourced from North Dakota and Alberta. If granted, the permit will be the first step toward making the project a reality.
 
Elkhorn submitted a water permit application for the project to the Wisconsin DNR in January of 2013, which will be open for public comment through December 6. The Wisconsin DNR will then have to make a decision as whether to grant the permit within 20 days.
 
The Calumet refinery is owned by Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. and currently produces gasoline, diesel, asphalt and heavy fuel oils.
 
The hearing will be held from 12:30 pm until 4 p.m., at the Superior Public Library, and will include presentations by both Elkhorn Industries and the Wisconsin DNR. There will also be time at the end of the hearing for testimony from the public.