The city planning board will consider amending an existing conditional use permit for Ponderosa Solutions during their Sept. 23 meeting.

City Commissioners will consider the request for final approval in the near future.

Commissioners approved a conditional use permit to allow Ponderosa to handle a hazardous substance in the AgriTech Park in April 2024.

The permit allows the handling of hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, which is listed as an ingredient of asphalt, at 6501 18th Ave. N.

City approves permit for transloading facility in AgriTech Park [2024]

The facility is designed for the transfer of materials such as asphalt products and fuels between railcars and tanker trucks. It includes recently constructed unit train tracks and designated transloading areas.

Transfers are conducted using portable, top-loading systems to minimize spill risks. According to the applicant, the facility handles a significant volume of product annually, with all transfer operations subject to hazard risk analyses to ensure safe and compliant handling, according to city staff.

Ponderosa is now requesting an amendment to their CUP to expand the list of hazardous substances handled at the facility to support operations related to sustainable aviation and jet fuel, specifically:

• diesel No. 2 ultra low sulfur
• RD99LC (renewable diesel)
• sustainable aviation fuel (RJ100/SPK-HEFA)
• unleaded gasoline

Ponderosa has updated its spill prevention and response plan to address the additional hazardous substances as part of their request to amend the CUP, according to the city staff report.

City Commission to consider permit for hazardous material for proposed AgriTech Park facility [2024]

Ponderosa is responsible for implementing and maintaining the response plan, which includes a worst-case discharge scenario evaluation.

The facility is designed to manage such an event, with containment capacity for the full volume of a single railcar, which is about 29,000 gallons, according to the staff report, and storm drain piping on the site is wrapped in Mirafi 150N geotextile fabric, and the drains are protected using best management practices, including approved absorbent materials.

In the event of a large spill, the outfall from the stormwater retention pond can be sealed and the outfall can be blocked, retaining stormwater on site and preventing discharge, according to staff.

Ponderosa is continuing to coordinate with city staff to update the site-specific spill prevention and emergency response plan, which will be reviewed by Great Falls Fire Rescue and public works.

City zoning board approves permit request for hazardous materials [2024]

GFFR has to give final approval on the plan before any transloading operations involving jet sustainable aviation fuel can occur, and the facility must comply with the International Fire Code section pertaining to flammable and combustible liquids.

City staff reviewed the permit amendment request and found it to be a “reasonable modification,” and is recommending some conditions to include requiring personal protective equipment be used in handling the materials and that in the event of fire, extinguishing measures should be dry chemical, CO2, water spray or foam.

Ponderosa discussed their operations and the proposal at Neighborhood Council 4’s Aug. 28 meeting.

To date, the facility has transloaded more than 20 million gallons of asphalt, with only one spill incident recorded, totaling 18 gallons, according to the staff report, and the incident was promptly contained, and the company has continued to update its spill response plan to align with evolving operational practices.

The council voted to recommend approval of the amended CUP.

Staff is recommending approval.