It’s Go Time! Vancouver Oil Terminal Hearing Announced!

On Nov. 24, 2015, the Tesoro-Savage Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was released. Stand up to Big Oil today! Join us at the public hearings, attend pre-hearing workshops to prepare oral or written testimony, and comment today!

Pre-hearing workshops:

  • Vancouver: December 3, 2015, 6:30-8:30 at the ILWU Local 4 Hall, 1205 Ingalls Street
  • Hood River: December 9, 2015, 7-8PM at the Hood River Library meeting room, 502 State Street
  • Portland: December 16, 2015, 7-8:30PM at the Friends Multnomah Meeting Center, 4312 Stark Street
  • Longview: December 16, 2015 5-6PM at the No Coal office, 1520 Commerce Avenue Suite A
  • Sign the petition to Stop Big Oil Today:  What is your #1 reason Washington should reject the oil-by-rail proposal in Vancouver?

  • Attend Tesoro-Savage Oil Terminal Public Hearings:
    • WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at 1:00-11:00PM (Rally at 5pm)
      WHERE: Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, Hall B located at 17402 NE Delfel Road Ridgefield, WA 98642.
      HOW: RSVP for the hearing HERE.
    • WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, 5:00-11PM or last speaker
      WHERE: Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds Hall B located at 17402 NE Delfel Road Ridgefield, WA  98642.
      HOW: RSVP for the hearing HERE.
    • WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, 5:00-11:00PM (Rally at 4:30pm)
      WHERE: Centerplace Regional Event Center located at 2426 N. Discovery Place
      Spokane Valley, WA  99216.
      HOW: RSVP for the hearing HERE.
  • Read the Draft Environmental Impact Statement here.

SUMMARY ON THE TESORO-SAVAGE OIL TERMINAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

by Brett VandenHeuvel, Executive Director, Columbia Riverkeeper

Photo by Port of Vancouver, USA.

The study demonstrates one thing: Tesoro’s oil trains and shipping terminal are too dangerous. Too dangerous for Vancouver, for the Columbia, and for our climate. The combination of explosive oil trains, huge oil tanks on earthquake-prone ground, and oil supertankers on the Columbia is reckless, and takes us in the wrong direction. The study released today gives Governor Inslee ample reasons to deny dirty oil and stand up for a clean and healthy Washington.

The Environmental Impact Statement finds:

  • Safety: Workers and neighbors "could be at risk of injury or death” in the event of an explosion. Page 4-86
  • Train traffic: “The additional four unit trains per day associated with the proposed Facility would increase [railroad crossing] gate downtime by between 15% and 26% along the [BNSF mainline along the Columbia River]. This increase in vehicle delays could constitute a major impact to emergency responders.” Page ES-41
  • Earthquakes: “EFSEC’s independent seismic analysis confirmed that liquefaction was a concern given soil conditions underlying the proposed Facility site.” Page ES-12
  • Salmon: “The increase in deep-draft vessel traffic associated with the proposed Facility could result in a moderate to major long-term effect on nearshore fish including listed salmonids and eulachon.” Page ES-32