New company discusses Bango purchase, upgrades

After years of fighting noxious odors from the former Bango Oil plant 14 miles west of Fallon, most residents said they feel fortunate that a new company bought the facility and is making major repairs and upgrades.

At a recent meeting with the community, representatives from Safety-Kleen Systems, a part of Clean Harbors Co., conducted an overview of the company’s purchase and future plans for the site.

Clean Harbors purchased the site in January and then shut it down to begin its upgrades. The former Bango facility became a bane for the residents who live near the plant.

According to its website, Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. is a company that provides services such as collecting and recycling oil, providing industrial cleaning and handling industrial waste. In addition, their products include cleaning equipment, antifreeze and coolant, windshield cleaner and re-refined oil products.

Bango Oil was a topic of controversy for almost eight years because residents alleged the plant was the source of a noxious sulfate odor. Despite residential complaints, the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection conducted tests that could not confirm such an odor existed.

Residents disputed the state’s findings. Both NDEP’s Bureau of Air Pollution Control permitting engineer and supervisor said Bingo’s emission levels had been reduced and met the Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code. NDEP said Bango was not subject to federal requirements.

Now residents said they have hope that their quality of life will return with the new owners.

Scott Miller, vice president of Refining Operations and a chemical engineer, said Safety-Kleen/Clean Harbors wants to be transparent in the way in which they do business.

“We want to keep you informed and in the loop at what’s going on at the old Bango facility,” Miller said. “We want to let you know what’s ahead for the future.

Miller said the company’s plans call for transforming the Fallon used oil re-refining facility as the most compliant, safe and profitable re-refinery in the country. He said the company has already met with some of the residents prior to the public meeting.

“We know all about Bango Oil before we bought it,” Miller said.

According to Miller, Clean Harbors buys oil-related companies that are in trouble. He said the company purchases companies and then invests millions of dollars in them to make them world-class facilities.

“That’s what we are doing with Bango,” he added.

Furthermore, Todd McHugh, the plant’s senior compliance manager, said he ensures both state and federal permits are current and that the facility is in compliance, or authorities can fine the company or shut it down.

Likewise, Jerry Gee, senior health and safety manager, said Clean Harbors is a strong proponent on safety.

Miller said Clean Harbors is a completely different company than the previous two owners of Bango. He said Clean Harbors’ overall revenue last year was $3.4 billion. About 12,000 employees work for the company, which serves 350 locations.

Miller assured attendees the company does not operate on a shoestring budget like the previous owners.

Miller said the Fallon operation is a close match to its core business. He said the plant takes used motor oil and changes it into finished products.

“Fallon gives Safety-Kleen another western re-refinery presence,” Miller said. “We are perfectly placed to take the oil from California.”

Miller said about 60 percent of its oil comes from the automobile sector, but only 20 percent is refined. The remainder is burned as industrial fuel.

Miller said Fallon will annually process about 20 millions gallons of used oil. He said the finished products are used as industrial fuels and asphalt material (roads, roofs, etc.).

The company’s customers, said Miller, include the military, government entities, the U.S. Postal Service, trucking fleets and thousands of others.

“We filled tens of thousands of sand-colored drums that went to Iraq and Afghanistan for the war effort,” he said.

Since Safety-Kleen/ Clean Harbors purchased Bango, Miller said employees have conducted an extensive review of the health and safety program, the environmental program and a risk assessment. Miller assured attendees and residents who live near the plant that the company will monitor potential odor, if it does occur, and react immediately to residents’ concerns.

“Normally, there shouldn’t be odors at these facilities,” he said.

With the work being done on the facility, Miller said the plant should be operational sometime in June or July.

Miller said the company is spending in excess of $5 million on the facility.

During a question and answer session, most residents asked questions about the company and some still expressed concerns about possible odor.

One resident who lives downwind from the facility said she still smells the odor, but Miller said with the plant shut down for three months, he said there should not be any smells emitting from the plant.

Miller, though, said the first time he visited the plant after the purchase, he said the facility “really stinks.”

Miller also said used oil that comes into the plant on rail cars and trucks leaves the tacitly the same way.

County Commissioner Pete Olsen said the company has the assets to back up their presence in Churchill County.

“They will be looking to protect their reputation,” he said. “They have the resources that may have been lacking in the past.”

Based on what he heard during the discussion, Olsen said promises were made in the past but nothing happened.

“I’ll give them a chance,” Olsen said of the new owners.

Resident Don Mello, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Bango smell, said he hopes the acquisition and upgrades work out. Mello also said he was happy to hear the company is not working on a shoestring budget.

Both Olsen and Mello said since the plant’s closure, they haven’t smelled any odors.