After 4.5 hours of presentations, public and commission questions, and comments from the public, the Billings County Commission moved unanimously on July 6, 2016 to approve a zoning change for the proposed Meridian Davis Refinery.  Comments from the public were evenly divided between those who favored and those who opposed approval of the proposed location and zoning change.  Neither the county commission nor the company showed any interest in seeking an alternative location which might satisfy concerns with industrial siting next to the National Park as well as provide jobs and county tax revenue desired by area communities.

Billings County Commission at their June 7 meeting again delayed a decision on Meridian Energy Group’s application for a proposed refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.