Class action complaint filed against Husky Energy

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A class action complaint was filed against Husky Energy and Superior Refining Company in response to the April 26 explosion and fire at their Superior refinery, which prompted the evacuation of most of Superior. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on Aug. 20, […]

Worn valve, iron sulfide possible cause of Husky explosion

A worn-out valve may have allowed air to contact various chemicals within equipment at the Husky Energy refinery in Superior, potentially triggering the April 26 explosion, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board reported Thursday. The explosion occurred within the fluid catalytic cracking unit, which was previously reported. The “factual investigative update” released by […]

Lake Superior Research Institute will sample groundwater in 11 counties

The Lake Superior Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Superior is launching a new study to test groundwater in 11 northwest Wisconsin counties for naturally occurring fluoride and other selected metals. The project, made possible by a $55,626 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, aims to test 700 water samples from privately-owned wells […]

Residents question Council about Husky HF tank

Residents from around the region addressed the Superior City Council about their concerns with the use of hydrogen fluoride at the Husky Energy refinery. Citing a 2011 report by the Center for Public Integrity, Kevin Swanberg of Duluth said it endangers 180,000 people living in the region. “I came here tonight because I am concerned […]

Study Will Measure Quality Of Northern Wisconsin Groundwater

First-Ever Private Well Testing Will Measure Fluoride, Metal Levels In 11 Counties A first-of-its-kind groundwater quality study in 11 northern Wisconsin counties will focus on what’s in the drinking water of private wells. The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Lake Superior Research Institute has received a nearly $56,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to […]

Superior: City officials need to act

In the six weeks since the Husky Refinery disaster, Superior citizens have questions about their safety and the role of the Husky Refinery in Superior moving forward. Silence from the city council has done nothing to answer these questions. It should be noted that the Husky Refinery disaster has not been on the agenda of […]

Five takeaways: Toxic risks in the Twin Ports

The News Tribune on Sunday took a long, hard look at the use of hydrogen fluoride at the Husky Energy refinery in Superior and other chemical risks in the Twin Ports. Here are five key takeaways to get caught up on the issue. Hydrogen fluoride, also known as hydrofluoric acid, is used to raise the […]