EPA/DOE require cleanup of biodiesel plant

Stacey Rasmussen, manager for the Odessa Public Development Authority, didn’t know what she was in for when she met with people from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Ecology last week for a “routine inspection” of Odessa’s mothballed biodiesel plant. As she reported Monday, March 16, at the regular monthly meeting of the OPDA board, the initial inspection quickly set off alarm bells among the DOE representatives present. EPA representation was also expected, but no one from that organization appeared.

The first group of inspectors was followed the next Thursday by a much larger group of nine EPA and DOE people who carried out a more detailed inspection by engineers and specialists in toxic cleanup efforts. Also requested was the presence of local law enforcement and fire department personnel while the inspection was taking place. As a result of the inspection, the EPA insisted on an immediate cleanup of toxic and/or caustic chemicals still at the plant, removal of a full tank of methanol and disposal of numerous totes filled with hazardous waste still stored at the plant both indoors and outside. Their purpose was to determine in detail the scope and possible cost of the cleanup. The EPA will perform the cleanup, which is expected to take about two weeks.

Determining the cost and who is responsible for paying for the cleanup are two important subjects for all of the parties concerned. Serious negotiations will no doubt be held over the next few weeks.

One positive aspect of the entire affair, said board member Clark Kagele, is that by the time of the April 15 deadline for potential new tenants or buyers to submit detailed proposals for reopening the plant, it will be completely up to EPA and DOE standards of cleanliness.

Rasmussen also reported that one of the three entities that had earlier expressed an interest in the plant would be coming to visit it this week. The interested party has been actively seeking information on the plant itself and has reached out to some of the people who were instrumental in its startup and continuing operation.

In a final agenda item related to the biodiesel plant, Rasmussen stated that the board had received a “request for items” from the company that had supplied the plant with fire suppression equipment. The company had allowed former tenant Transmessis to rent the equipment. Rent payments had not been forthcoming, however, and the company was requesting the return of its equipment. Board members decided that, in order to maintain a further level of safety, the equipment would be returned only after the cleanup is completed.

LPCA

The meat processing plant at Odessa’s industrial park was also on the agenda. The group had submitted some of the information requested by the OPDA board but was still in the process of reviewing a staffing plan in preparation for a possible renewal of operations. Treasurer Sue Lani Madsen said in her letter to the OPDA board that the livestock producers group was planning to meet Friday, March 20, to make a final decision on whether to go forward with efforts to reopen the plant or to withdraw and allow some other entity to lease or buy the operation.

Madsen also requested on the producers’ behalf that lease payments owed to the OPDA be deferred until April 15, which the board approved.