FHRPineBend.com - The Refinery: Water Permits

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State Water Appropriation Permit
FHR has a water appropriation permit from the MN DNR that allows FHR to withdraw about 7 million gallons a day of groundwater. FHR must measure the amount of water it withdraws and submit an annual report to the MN DNR on the amount it used. FHR also pays a fee based upon the amount of water used.

FHR monitors the water quality out of its production wells and from more than 150 other wells around the property. Working with Dakota County, FHR models the impact of its water withdrawal on the production of other large wells (particularly municipal wells) and on the movement of contaminants in the soil and groundwater, not only under the refinery but from other areas in the county. This is part of Dakota County's Wellhead Protection Program, which it carries out in conjunction with the MN Department of Health.

In the spring of 2005, FHR announced that it would begin reusing its treated wastewater to supply additional water that is required to operate new processing units that are being constructed at the refinery to produce cleaner diesel fuel. FHR evaluated a number of water options, including drilling a new well and increasing its water appropriation as well as several water reuse options. Reusing its treated wastewater means that the refinery will not need drill a new well.

Download a copy of the MN DNR appropriation permit (File Size: 386 KB)

State/Federal Water Discharge Permit
FHR discharges water to the Mississippi River after it has been treated at the refinery wastewater treatment plant. That discharge is regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in a permit specified under US EPA rules. It's called an NPDES/SDS or National Pollution Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System Permit, and it is a permit to discharge treated wastewater to the river within a stringent set of limits and conditions.

Among many requirements and conditions for how the wastewater treatment plant and refinery are operated, the NPDES permit requires FHR to discharge its treated effluent within 31 parameter limits and 7 continuously monitored parameters. FHR must submit the results of this monitoring to the MPCA in a monthly report called a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). The MPCA inspects FHR's wastewater plant and discharge regularly, including unannounced inspections annually. The US EPA also conducts inspections every year or so.

FHR's environmental laboratory does most of the testing of FHR's treated effluent, and is certified by the Minnesota Department of Health. The MDH inspects FHR's lab annually, as does the US EPA. FHR also participates in a program managed by USEPA (DMR-QA Study) and in round-robin testing with other labs to be sure that FHR is accurately measuring the quality of the wastewater.

Download a copy of the current MPCA Water Discharge Permit (File Size: 1.3 MB)