Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council expected to make a recommendation to Governor Inslee in near future
(Olympia, WA) 11/21/17 – Today, the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Tesoro-Savage oil train terminal. Proposed in Vancouver, Washington, the project would ship up to 360,000 barrels of crude oil each day using up to five, loaded, mile-long oil trains daily. The proposal received a clear rebuke from Vancouver voters earlier this month when Vancouver residents elected oil terminal opponent Don Orange to the Vancouver Port Commission by a 30-point margin.
The FEIS identified multiple, serious public safety and environmental impacts that cannot be fully mitigated, including the potential for oil train accidents, seismic-related risks, harm to endangered salmon, rail delays and transportation disruptions, emergency response delays, and impacts to low-income and minority communities. The next step will involve the release of a final recommendation by EFSEC to the Governor on November 28th in Olympia. Governor Inslee is the final decision-maker on the project. (Full FEIS can be viewed here)
In response, the Stand Up To Oil Campaign released the following statement:
“Washington’s environmental review clearly shows that the Tesoro-Savage oil train terminal is bad for Washington. We now look to Governor Inslee to deny this project once and for all,” said Rebecca Ponzio, director for the Stand Up to Oil Campaign. “Oil trains are dangerous to people, the environment, and our climate. Not surprisingly, the environmental review released today finds significant environmental and safety impacts that cannot be mitigated. The environmental review demonstrates that the oil terminal would expose people across Washington state to increased and unjustifiable risks.”
The Stand Up to Oil Campaign is continuing to review the Final Environmental Impact Statement and will provide additional information later today.
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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. Learn more at Standuptooil.org.
Contacts:
Rebecca Ponzio, Stand Up to Oil Campaign, 206.240.0493, rebecca@wecprotects.org
Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper, 503.890.2441, dan@columbiariverkeeper.org
Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice, 206.343.7340 x1033, kboyles@earthjustice.org