Husky Refinery Evacuated Again

The Husky refinery was evacuated on Thursday, Feb. 20 after a large popping sound was heard by workers.  In addition to the workers being evacuated, electricity and gas to the site was shut down, and the nearby Stinson Road was blocked off. 

It is now believed that the sound came from a tower, which was found to have defects in its structure and which may be at risk of falling.  Stinson Road continues to be shut down, since it is within the potential fall zone of the tower.  Husky insists however, that if the tower falls, it won’t pose a risk to the community.

Residents and workers have reason to be uneasy though.  The Husky refinery was the site of an explosion and fire back in April of 2018 that necessitated the evacuation of most of the city of Superior.  Three dozen people were injured in that disaster.  That explosion and fire was centered around an asphalt tank, but if it had spread to a nearby tank containing hydrogen fluoride, the disaster could have been much worse. 

Since then the refinery has been out of operation while it is being rebuilt.  Despite calls from the community, and from the mayors of both Superior and Duluth, Husky is insisting that they will continue to use the highly dangerous hydrogren fluoride at their refinery.  They are doing this despite the fact that there are safer alternatives.  Husky’s continued insistence of putting profit ahead of safety and the needs of the community, combined with the pressing need to convert to renewable energy because of climate change, is causing more and more folks to conclude that the refinery should be shut down once and for all. 

Such changes are daunting for small communities that rely on the jobs provided by such facilities.  But it is within the means of this country to provide resources to help cities like Superior transition to a safer, greener and more socially beneficial economy.  A better, safer, greener world is possible.  Lets work together to build an alliance of the community, labor and environmentalists to make it happen! 

>> The article above was written by Adam Ritscher.