Stand Up To Oil coalition statement on the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to conduct environmental review for Vancouver, WA oil terminal

For Immediate Release: 6/4/15

“Today the Army Corps made the right decision - to uphold their responsibility to the public and take a hard look at the impacts of the Tesoro Savage oil-by-rail terminal. The Corps’ decision to conduct a full review is consistent with the law, and follows common sense: an unprecedented oil-by-rail terminal deserves a public discussion on impacts to public safety and our environment.

If constructed, dangerous oil trains will travel through the heart of Vancouver, Washington, and oil supertankers would for the first time maneuver down the Columbia River. This terminal would endanger our health, safety and economy and deserves a thorough evaluation from all decision-makers.”

Background
Today, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it would undertake a rigorous review of the oil terminal under both the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), two federal laws designed to protect the environment.  As part of its NEPA review, the Corps will hold public hearings and likely produce an Environmental Impact Statement.

To reconstruct a dock on the Columbia River, Tesoro Savage asked the Corps for a one-size-fits-all “nationwide” permit under the Clean Water Act.  The Corps rejected Tesoro Savage’s request and announced today it would undertake a thorough review that requires a site-specific look at the impacts to clean water, clean air, and endangered salmon.  Tesoro Savage is also seeking permits from the State of Washington, where the state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council is evaluating the impacts.

Diverse and widespread voices have raised concerns about Tesoro’s oil terminal, including: ILWU, Local 4 Vancouver; the City of Vancouver; the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; local developers; and clean energy, fishing, and conservation organizations.

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Stand Up to Oil is a growing coalition of groups opposed to new oil terminals and an increase in oil transport through the Northwest, while working to improve safety measures for oil currently traveling through the region.

Core members include: Climate Solutions, Columbia Riverkeeper, Earthjustice, Forest Ethics, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Friends of the San Juans, The Lands Council, Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.


Press Release from Corps