Updates
May 13, 2012: My understanding of the time line:
- BHI was there first
- the flood came
- a school was lost
- a replacement school was moved near BHI
- the Minot fire marshall said "not to worry." BHI operations were safe
- Minot city council: nixes BHI's operations at their new multi-million-dollar facility
Original Post
Link here.The idea of oil-field chemicals near residences and a proposed school in north Minot didn't sit well with most Minot aldermen Monday.Walking to "work" today, I thought about a comment I posted yesterday regarding "city council" and master planning. I was second-guessing whether I should have posted that comment. This story tells me I was right on. A reader confirms: the Baker Hughes building was planned well before this school site was proposed. Interesting.
The Minot City Council voted 8 to 5 to deny a permit to Baker Hughes to store flammable chemicals in a new warehouse that the company is building along the north portion of the U.S. Highway 83 Bypass. The denial doesn't stop the company from storing chemicals but severely limits the quantity to the point where company officials believe operations will be impeded.
"It would have a significant impact on how we could operate out of the Minot facility," Ron Rowbottom, Baker Hughes safety and health officer, told the council just before the vote.
Chemicals were to make up 15 to 20 percent of the activity at the facility, which Baker Hughes is constructing to primarily handle its technology operations. It is to open for operation July 1. The Minot Fire Department had signed off on the chemical permit because of the proposed safety features built into the warehouse.
