Way finally cleared for moving ammonia tanks

Montevideo, Minn.-Farmers Union Co-op Oil Co. of Montevideo (Cenex) figures that a “very unnecessary delay” caused by a property owner’s lawsuit cost the company between $10,000 to $15,000 to resolve objections to the simple relocation of three anhydrous ammonia tanks. “We’ve been working on the problem since a year ago in July,” General Manager Glen Moe told Green Markets. Moe had to deal with a neighboring property owner who filed suit against Cenex and the city claiming that there was no reason for the tanks to be in the town. In April, the judge turned the matter back to the city for further review because he wanted to see more evidence supporting the approval. “The judge had ruled that there were certain things we had to do before moving the tanks for our fall season,” Moe explained. “So the city decided on the hearing so people in the community who had concerns could express themselves. (But) the general public didn’t even know the tanks existed. And all we wanted to do is move them onto property already zoned for industrial use so we could gain another operating area.” Moe was joined at the hearing by consultant Ray Steil, who has dealt with anhydrous ammonia for decades. Steil told the council members that “The only way you’re going to have a catastrophic release is if a 747 hits the side of the tank. It isn’t going to happen.” After three and a half hours the council approved the tank relocation on the motion of one member, who concluded, “Every safeguard is built in here you possibly can.”