Governor Inslee has rejected the Tesoro oil terminal in Vancouver!
Washington Governor Jay Inslee rejected the largest oil shipping terminal proposed in North America as not in the best interests of the state and its people. The Tesoro Savage project sought to ship over 131 million barrels of oil per year down the Columbia River, causing up to five, mile-and-a-half long oil trains to pass through Spokane, the Columbia River Gorge, and the City of Vancouver every day.
“This project was absurdly dangerous and destructive, and Governor Inslee saw these risks clearly,” said Dan Serres, Conservation Director of Columbia Riverkeeper. “The threat of an earthquake or accident creating an oil spill in the Columbia River poses far too great a risk to the Columbia, its salmon, and its people.”
“The Governor put the health of our communities and the Columbia River ahead of the oil industry’s profits,“ said Rebecca Ponzio, campaign director of Stand Up To Oil and Climate and Fossil Fuel director of Washington Environmental Council. “People across Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest are standing alongside him in this denial. This what leadership looks like.”
Read the full press release here >>
Watch a short film about the win against Tesoro in Vancouver
Here’s what you can do:
Thank Gov. Inslee for his decision >>
Read our press release with all the details >>
Don Steinke, a local leader in the campaign to stop the oil train terminal, said, “Since 2013, we have urged the Port to protect clean air, clean water, and our children’s future. This is why the community elected Eric LaBrant and Don Orange to the Port Commission. This is the right decision for the community and the Port.”
Read the full press release here >>
Unanimous Rejection of the Oil Terminal: Now Gov. Inslee Has Final Call!
The Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) unanimously recommended denial of the Tesoro Savage oil terminal in Vancouver, Washington. The final decision falls to Governor Jay Inslee, and community leaders from around the region are calling on Governor Inslee to deny the proposal swiftly, ending a four-year saga over the massive, 360,000-barrel-per day oil train terminal. A final written recommendation will be issued on December 19th.
On November 21st, EFSEC issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement, identifying significant impacts that can not be mitigated or reduced from this project, including risk to the terminal facility from earthquakes, to traffic fatalities and injuries from increased oil train traffic, emergency response delays, and impacts to low income and minority communities. There are four key areas where the Tesoro project would cause significant and unavoidable harm:
- Seismic: ground-shaking and liquefaction (p. ES-12)
- Rail/pedestrian accidents (p. ES-15 to ES-16)
- Rail traffic delay at at-grade crossings: increase emergency response times (p. ES-18)
- Disproportional impacts to minority and low-income populations due to: decrease in property values, gate downtime impacting motorists and emergency responders, increased noise (p.ES-19)
For more information on the FEIS, read our overview here.
Take action today >> Tell Gov. Inslee to stop the largest oil terminal in North America!
Helpful Links
Hundreds oppose the oil terminal proposal at the final hearing!
On June 7th, Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council held its final major public hearing on the Tesoro Savage oil-by-rail terminal, with over 200 attendees during the rally and 300 attendees throughout the day. Activists urged Governor Inslee and EFSEC to deny the largest proposed oil terminal in North America. EFSEC collected public comments on the draft air pollution permit for Tesoro, and was likely the public’s last chance to weigh in before EFSEC makes a final recommendation to Governor Inslee.
Read the full press release, see more photos, and read news coverage here!
Oil train terminals are major sources of toxic air pollution. Tesoro would release smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), diesel exhaust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants linked to increased cancer rates. Tesoro Savage is tries to downplay this impact. Here’s where you come in: Tell EFSEC not to sacrifice the health of Vancouver’s residents, schoolchildren, and businesses for Tesoro’s massive oil-by-rail scheme.
Read our Factsheet to learn more about the air pollution impacts of Tesoro’s proposed terminal.
Learn more about the air quality health risks
– Expert testimony of Dr. Sahu regarding volatile organic compound and carbon dioxide emissions.
– Export testimony of Dr. Elinor Fanning on the health implications of Tesoro’s air pollution.
– Fact sheet about Tesoro air pollution.
One Million Comments Delivered!
One million statements to protect the Pacific Northwest from oil and coal exports were delivered to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. Communities across the PNW are rallying to say no to these dirty fossil fuels – we can do better!
VIEW PHOTOS
READ ABOUT IT
‘Today is a Milestone Day’: Groups Deliver One Million Petitions Against Coal and Oil Terminals to Gov. Inslee | Seattle Weekly | 11 May
Twenty-One Days of Review
In the course of a 21-day hearing on the Tesoro-Savage proposal, over 80 witnesses were called to testify on subjects ranging from oil spill risk, train derailments, seismic hazards, emergency response, air emissions, public health impacts, community concerns, tribal fishing and cultural sites, harm to the Columbia River and its fish, insurance, and oil economics. This five-week intense period was in preparation of the review board, called the Energy Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), providing Governor Inslee a recommendation on the terminal.
Two state-wide elected leaders recommended a denial of this terminal during this process.
- The Department of Natural Resources, on behalf of Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark, submitted in their initial brief a strongly worded argument on the unreasonable fire and safety risks from the proposed oil terminal and its trains, concluding that the risks were simply too high and “…that the application for site certification for the Proposal be denied.”
- Attorney General Bob Ferguson, in a very rare move in EFSEC adjudications, recommended project denial, saying “Protecting the environment and public safety are top priorities of my office, and we considered the evidence presented with the care those priorities demand. The bottom line is that the potential benefits of this project are dramatically outweighed by the potential risks and costs of a spill.”
On the final afternoon, after the lawyers gave closing arguments, the public had another chance to weigh in. Over a 100 community members gathered to voice their concerns against the proposal at a rally; many then spoke directly to EFSEC. Thank you to all who shared their time and voices to stand up to this dangerous proposal!
A huge thank you to Kristen Boyles and Janette Brimmer of Earthjustice who led the charge in presenting witnesses, pulling together expert testimony, crafting argument, and coordinating allied opponents – the Cities of Vancouver, Spokane, and Washougal, Clark County, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, the Umatilla and Yakama Tribes, the Washington State Counsel for the Environment, ILWU Local 4, Columbia Riverkeeper, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association, Climate Solutions, Stand, Spokane Riverkeeper, Sierra Club, and Washington Environmental Council.
What’s Next
In terms of next steps for the Tesoro-Savage proposal, EFSEC has a lot to review. We expect a recommendation by EFSEC to Governor Inslee sometime in mid 2017. We are also waiting for draft air and water permits, which will prompt public comment periods, the final state Environmental Impact Statement, and federal decisions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Image: Ariane Kunze/The Columbian
Read the coverage of the hearings
If you’re interested in watching some of the hearing, you can go here for daily hearing footage.
The New York Times produced a great piece on the broad implications of oil transportation in Washington.
Oregon Public Broadcasting broke the story that the groundwater in Mosier has been contaminated by the derailment.
The Olympian ran a strong OpEd penned by members of WA’s Physicians for Social Responsibility highlighting the risks the project poses to vulnerable communities.
The Columbian covered one of the most influential voices, the Attorney General’s, weighing in on the proposal.
January Public Hearing on Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Record Comments Submitted on the Tesoro-Savage Proposal!
Mid-January marked the close of comments on the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Tesoro-Savage oil terminal in Vancouver, WA. The Stand Up To Oil campaign delivered a record-breaking 276,296 comments to Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) opposing the project. This outpouring of opposition follows turn out of almost 2,000 people to three crowded hearings (two in Vancouver, one in Spokane) in the first weeks of 2016. Read the full press release here >>
Tesoro-Savage would have impacts across the region – from oil spills to accidents along the rail and tanker route. The proposal could also deal a major blow to Vancouver’s economy and quality of life. The project is in direct conflict with a $1.3 billion waterfront redevelopment plan that would build 3,300 new homes, as well as restaurants, shopping and office space. Twenty-two city blocks of the waterfront development would be within 100 feet of the rail line.
Tesoro Savage’s proposal is opposed by the Vancouver City Council, Vancouver Firefighters Union IAFF Local 452, ILWU Local 4, Columbia Waterfront LLC, the Cities of Washougal and Spokane, the Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission, the environmental community, and people from all walks of life across the Northwest.
In The News
Oil Terminal Takeaways | The Columbian | 24 January 2016
Official says Vancouver oil terminal plan deeply flawed | The Columbian | 18 October 2015
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