Woods Cross, refinery make progress after fire

WOODS CROSS — Mayor Kent Parry said a meeting Tuesday between Woods Cross and Silver Eagle Refinery officials was the first positive step the two entities have made since a January fire at the refinery.

The fire seriously injured four workers — two employees and two contractors — who were clearing a line with nitrogen gas and bypassed a stabilizing mechanism. The gas forced fumes out of a 440,000-gallon tank, which was nearly full at the time. The fumes ignited in a flash fire, burning the men.

At least one of the injured men has retained an attorney.

The fire led to evacuations and has prompted the City Council to pursue a fix to what went wrong, including a lack of communication during and after the fire.

Since April, the City Council has been trying to get answers from refinery officials about the fire, something the refinery has declined to discuss because of possible litigation. But the council has also wanted the refinery to reach out to the community.

Previous meetings with refinery officials have left the city with a sour taste, because it appeared the refinery wasn't being responsive to the council's concerns.

After the fire, the refinery hired a public relations firm, which set up an eight-point plan for community involvement. Nothing has happened with that plan until now.

One of those points was the creation of a committee made up of residents and officials, allowing residents to ask questions of refinery officials.

"We envision it as a way to coordinate things happening in the refinery," Parry said.

That way, he said, residents have a venue for asking for explanations of refinery issues, such as smells, sounds or activities.

"Idle speculation is the worst thing that can happen," Parry said.

Members of the committee include Parry, city administrator Gary Uresk, Woods Cross Police Chief Paul Howard, South Davis Metro Fire District Chief Jim Rampton, two residents and five refinery officials.

Refinery president David McSwain, who has been unable to attend previously scheduled public meetings with the City Council, is expected to attend committee meetings, the first of which is scheduled for June 24.

The City Council also received copies of a draft plan for how emergency personnel respond to future emergencies and discussed how the refinery can keep city officials informed.

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