Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend Refinery, Leon Township, Minnesota | Oil Infrastructure

Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend Refinery is a large petroleum refinery located in Leon Township, Clearwater County, Minnesota, United States. The facility processes crude oil into a range of refined products including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt. It is one of the largest refineries in the Midwest, with a capacity of over 300,000 barrels per day. The refinery operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act Refinery MACT standards and the Clean Water Act. The facility is subject to stringent emissions controls and spill prevention measures. As a major source of air emissions, it must comply with Title V operating permits and risk management plans. The Pine Bend Refinery plays a critical role in supplying petroleum products to the Upper Midwest region. Its location near the Mississippi River provides access to crude oil via pipeline and barge. The facility has invested in environmental controls to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, contributing to its operational significance.

The refinery is situated in a rural area of Minnesota, near the Mississippi River. The region's cold climate and proximity to waterways pose specific environmental challenges, including potential for spills affecting aquatic ecosystems. The facility's refining complexity (Nelson index) and coastal siting increase spill risk, though modern containment systems mitigate this. The downstream product mix includes gasoline and diesel, which have associated combustion emissions.