ELK POINT - A proposed refinery near Elk Point would cause pollution, according to an environmentalist who addressed a meeting Thursday.

Denny Larson of the San Francisco-based Refinery Reform Campaign told more than 100 people that refineries can have a litany of environmental problems, including flares that release a black cloud of pollution, noise and dust during construction, and odor and health effects on downwind communities.

"The stuff is going to go somewhere. I'm going to say that like a thousand times today," Larson said.

Hyperion Resources of Dallas, the company that's eyeing the Elk Point area for the possible refinery, said it shares Larson's commitment to the environment and will do all it can to protect it.

Hyperion announced last month it might build an $8 billion gasoline and diesel-fuel refinery in Union County.

Larson, who talked for almost two hours, was invited to speak by the Save Union County Committee, a local group trying to stop the proposed refinery.

"People do die from air pollution," he said.

Residents should ask for more details, Larson said. Even so, the project would harm the rural landscape and way of life, he said.

"From what I saw here in the last 24 hours, you've got something green here," he said. "The greenest of refineries in the wrong location ain't green."

"We know that the Refinery Reform Campaign believes the industry as a whole has failed to clean up its act," Hyperion project executive Preston Phillips said in a release. "We, too, believe it can do better. Our commitment with this project is that we will do better."

Delores Hofland of Elk Point said she doesn't think many people had any idea what the project is all about.

Another at the meeting, Linda Scarmon said: "It's probably the most fearful thing that I've ever had to go through, these last few months. I'm just glad we've finally got somebody giving us some information."

Her home is just north of the proposed site.

J.B. Mercer of Jefferson said he supports the proposed refinery but welcomed Larson's information.

"These are all the kinds of things that everyone wants answered," said Mercer, leader of a group called Citizens for Hyperion.

A cleaner refinery is possible, Larry Washburn of South Sioux City, Neb., said.

"I think it would be good for the community, because we need jobs," he said. "But I want it all to be aboveboard."