Superior Refinery Facing 27 Air Quality + Pollution Violations Since Restart

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued two notices of air quality violations, citing 27 total violations that have occurred since the refinery returned to service in 2023.

Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the violations include exceeding emission limits for their permit and failing to monitor their emissions. Cenovus Energy operates under the name Superior Refinery Company in Wisconsin.

The refinery resumed operations in the 4th quarter of 2023, following an extensive rebuild that began after the 2018 explosion.

Cenovus says most of the violations are from short-term issues that occurred after the restart. However, the EPA says they've had a significant violation more often, as many as 4 of the last 12 quarters.

When the refinery started back up in 2023, the DNR says they didn't limit emissions for nitrogen oxides enough. In early 2024, the DNR alleges that the refinery also didn't limit sulfur dioxide emissions for 25 percent of the time in the first few months.

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According to the EPA, Nitrogen oxide emissions can cause serious health issues like respiratory inflammation, asthma, and environmental concerns.

Sulfur Dioxide emissions can also affect people with asthma or breathing issues. It also affects plant growth in the environment.

Another issue, according to the WPR, is that there isn't enough air quality monitoring. The nearest air quality monitoring the DNR uses is in Duluth, and that didn't even detect the 2018 refinery explosion. The DNR says they don't have enough funding to have more monitors.

That means the only refinery operating in Wisconsin doesn't have an official air quality monitor sufficient enough. Read more about the concerns and alleged violations in Wisconsin Public Radio's article.