July 23, 2012:

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A company planning a $10 billion oil refinery in southeastern South Dakota has asked the state Supreme Court to expedite a hearing on an air-quality permit. Dallas-based Hyperion Resources said delays and litigation have prevented the company from securing money from investors to move forward. The company submitted its initial air-quality application in 2007. Save Union County, the Sierra Club and Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution appealed a decision in March by Circuit Court Judge Mark Barnett, upholding the company's air quality permit. Hyperion officials want the Supreme Court to hear the permit appeal as early as possible in the court's August term or as soon as possible after that. "Understandably, financial entities and supporters are unwilling to supply money to a project that may be undertaken and then have its permit overturned, resulting in large financial losses," Hyperion said in court documents.

Hyperion has until March to start building the refinery that would process 400,000 barrels of Canadian tar sands crude oil each day, The Argus Leader reported Monday (http://argusne.ws/OTqhXp ). Hyperion contends that the refinery would be a clean, modern plant that would reduce the nation's dependence on oil from overseas. Opponents say it would emit too much pollution and deplete the quality of life of people living in the area.

By Therepublic.com