Minutes

Attendees: Robyn Bass, Robert Browne, Megan Corbin, Bobbi Engstrom Germond, Frank Giesen, Charlie Glazman, Steve Gotelaere, Mark Johnson, Keith Kesler, Lori Keute, Carol Lindberg, Asst. Chief Tad Matheson, Jay Mitchell, Courtney Podvin, Sister Genevieve Schillo, Tom Strewler.

Industry Representatives: Aimee Curtis, Liz Lundmark, Corey Mead, Dave Podratz, Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

Facilitator: Ann Green, Ann Green Communications, Inc.

Minutes: Tricia Clendenen, Ann Green Communications, Inc.

The neighborhood meeting of the Murphy Oil USA, Superior Refinery Community Advisory Panel (CAP) was called to order by facilitator Ann Green beginning at 7:15 p.m., February 6, 2003. Ann welcomed CAP members and guests to this special outreach meeting at the Great Lakes Elementary School. Ann introduced CAP members at the presenters’ table and recognized other CAP members in the audience by pointing out their nametags and ribbons. Ann reviewed the agenda and the team agreement. Bob Browne provided an icebreaker for the group to start the meeting.

CAP Member Presentations

Four CAP member representatives were asked to talk about various aspects and activities of the CAP. Topics, presenters’ names and summaries follow.

· What is a Community Advisory Panel? – Charlie Glazman

The CAP is a listening panel, an advisory panel, and an open forum for discussions between the Superior community and the refinery. We are your friends, relatives, and neighbors interested in the operations of Murphy Oil USA and want to be a means to convey questions, concerns or comments to the company. Our objectives are to provide feedback from the community about plant operations and concerns and identify ways to improve communication within the area. We want to provide input to the community from the refinery about their operations and the refinery’s concerns. We provide a mechanism for the plant to discuss community response to Murphy Oil USA’s ideas and plans. In addition, we provide a means to educate the refinery’s management about the community and vice versa, we provide a means to educate community leadership about the plant.

Our goals are to reach a common ground of understanding and build trust between the community and Murphy Oil USA; preserve Lake Superior, as well as maintain the economic impact that Murphy Oil USA has in our community. As such we are strictly volunteers and serve only to advise and the CAP is not a decision making body for the refinery. The CAP is not an instrument of Murphy Oil USA.

· History of the Community Advisory Panel –Bobbi Germond

In 1988, the American Chemistry Council developed a program to respond to community concerns about the manufacture and use of chemicals. This program became known as Responsible Care® which requires all member companies to support a continuing effort to improve the chemical companies conscientious management of chemicals. Responsible Care® is committed to making progress toward the vision of no accidents, injuries or harm to the environment and will publicly report the global health, safety and environmental performance of member businesses. The guiding principles of this plan include seeking the public input regarding member corporation’s products and operations; providing products that can be manufactured, transported, used and disposed of safely; working with stakeholders to foster the safe use, transport and disposal of chemicals; and to support education and research on the health, safety and environmental effects of these products.

In order to accomplish this initiative, Murphy Oil USA was among the first in the oil refinery industry to participate in Responsible Care and develop the Community Advisory Panel.

Our CAP was started in July 2000. The panel now numbers 20 members and we represent a diverse group of environmentalists, business owners, school administrators, students and teachers, retirees, elected officials, health professionals, and clergy.

· What Has the CAP Talked About? – Bob Browne

Over the past 29 months, the CAP has discussed a number of issues that have affected the local community. We have investigated how the plant handles the use of water in its refinery process and the treatment of that water as it leaves the plant. We talked at length about the chemicals used at the plant and the safety procedures used in storing and handling them. We have raised concerns about the refinery’s future, what the economic impact of its 146 employees and 30 million dollars in local spending has on the community. In addition, we inquired about Newton Creek and Hog Island Inlet; the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources study of these areas and the resulting memorandum of understanding. The CAP learned of the Summary of Consent Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. We have also discussed Murphy Oil USA’s Risk Management Planning, that is, how the refinery would handle accidents and disasters that could occur. Finally, we spoke about how we could inform the local public about the CAP and work with residents to find out what other concerns and issues there may be in the community.

· What Has the CAP Accomplished? – Frank Giesen

The Community Advisory Panel has achieved an on-going dialogue with the refinery management and its employees. We’ve had open discussions on any topic we wished to raise. We have included the public to our meetings and have had numerous visitors join our meetings. We have served as a sounding board for the company and we continue to provide understanding and information to the community at large.

The local CAP has three operational committees each working on specific areas of concern. They are the Communications Committee, the Emergency Preparedness Committee, and the Youth Education Committee. Each of these committees has accomplished much.

The Communications Committee is charged with informing the public about the CAP, its purpose, goals and objectives. This committee has arranged and staged informational presentations to community civic organizations, teacher associations, business organizations and local government.

The Emergency Preparedness Committee was given the responsibility to research and recommend to the panel available emergency warning systems. Out of those discussions came the recommendation of First Call, the emergency telephone system that will contact, by telephone, residents in affected areas of specific emergencies. Murphy Oil USA has agreed to contribute money towards the cost of this system.

The Youth Education Committee works with local schools to support education about the natural environment. Through the efforts of this committee, the local school district obtained a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for educational programming. In addition, the CAP has suggested a mini-grant program for local classes in environmental and science education.

Murphy Oil Presentation

Dave Podratz, Refinery Manager, presented an overview of the Superior Refinery and of the CAP. The CAP members provided suggestions for content and direction for the presentation agenda. The presentation focused on four areas including Murphy Oil Overview, Murphy’s Commitment to the Environment, Murphy Oil’s Commitment to Safety and Murphy Oil’s Commitment to the Community. (A copy of the presentation is attached.)

Question and Answer Opportunity

Ann thanked the presenters and provided an opportunity for questions. An audience member asked how much sulfur dioxide is produced at the facility each year. Dave responded by stating approximately 2,500 tons a year is produced. When asked if research has been conducted on past employees, Dave responded by stating Murphy’s commitment to minimizing exposure, compliance with EPA guidelines and emphasis on employee safety training. A retiree from the audience emphasized Dave’s comments. Another question was asked about the effects of breathing when near the facility. Dave responded by stating the nose is sensitive and there are smells well within safety guidelines. When asked if Murphy Oil affects the price of gas, Dave stated Murphy Oil has very little impact on the price of gasoline. The price of crude oil goes up and down in a world economy, and the product markets are very large and efficient so a small player like Murphy can’t have much of an impact Murphy Oil is in the wholesale business only in the Superior area, not the retail side of the business.

Ann referenced the CAP brochures that were handed out at the beginning of the meeting and asked attendees to complete the evaluation forms.

Next Meeting Date and Agenda

The next meeting will be held March 6, 2003 at WITC, 6:00 p.m. A critique of the outreach meeting will be the discussion topic.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Next Meeting Date: March 6, 2003

WITC

6:00 p.m.