Take Action: Sign a petition to urge the City of Portland, Oregon DEQ, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny authorizations for expanded tar sands train shipments through Portland.
February 8, 2019
Traffic from trains carrying the world’s dirtiest fuel could spike in Portland, OR, and other communities along the Columbia River. Zenith Energy wants to expand shipments of heavy tar sands crude at its Willamette River facility in Portland, OR. Zenith started shipping tar sands crude to China in 2018. According to OPB, the Zenith facility may expand to handle at least one tar sands train per week—and possibly more. Mile-long trains transporting tar sands oil to Portland would travel along the Columbia River.
Tar sands are a mixture of mostly bitumen, sand, clay, and water. Bitumen is made of hydrocarbons—the same molecules in liquid oil—and used to produce gasoline and other petroleum products. Tar sands shipments pose serious risks to our safety and clean water. Learn more about tar sands and Zenith’s dangerous plans.