By Julie Ann Madden

As of Feb. 25, land options filed at the Union County Register of Deeds Office believed to be for the Hyperion Refining LLC’s Gorilla Project total approximately 12,500 acres. However, according to Register of Deeds Jana Foltz, it is believed that not all of the land options have been filed yet. In addition, some of the legal descriptions for the land options have errors. Hyperion officials have not filed any corrected agreements. Although Hyperion officials have only filed land options regarding the approximately 12,500 acres, in the Modeling Protocol for Hyperion completed by David Keen of RTP Environmental Associates, Inc. and filed with the South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources on Oct. 8, 2007, it states: “The proposed site is bordered by Interstate 29 south and west. The site encompasses approximately 32,000 acres of agricultural land.” March 1, 2007, was when the first land option agreements were filed in Union County. Each was signed by Richard E. White, authorized agent of the Elk Point Economic Development Corporation. On that date eight agreements were filed. In July 2007, there were 11 more filed. In December 2007, there were 37 more agreements filed. On Jan. 15, 2008, three more were filed and on Feb. 25 of this year two more agreements were filed. The agreements remain in the name of the Elk Point Economic Development Corporation even though Hyperion officials have said Richard E. White is the person in charge of their land acquisition and marketing. In an interview on Jan. 17, Hyperion Project Executive Preston Philips said that land acquisition in Union County continues as well as their development of other proposed sites.