DULUTH - When the former Husky Superior oil refinery reopens this year under new management, it faces heightened scrutiny as regulators have said the accident that caused $550 million in damages and injured nearly 40 workers was avoidable.

A final federal report on the 2018 Husky Energy refinery explosion in Superior, Wis., was released last week, and it details a slew of safety issues that led to the incident, along with recommendations for the new plant. The 200-page U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) report identifies six areas that show likely cause for the explosion, which resulted in the release of 39,000 pounds of flammable hydrocarbon vapor into the air.

"This accident could have been avoided," board chair Steve Owens said in a statement.

https://www.startribune.com/husky-oil-refinery-explosion-could-have-been-avoided-feds-say-in-final-report/600240542/