Stop the rail transport of OIL in Washington State

[eridani]

While Nebraska and the rest of the Midwest remain at risk from the depredations that would be inflicted by the Keystone XL pipelline, the Great Northwest is still at risk of becoming the rail and shipping hub for billions more pounds of greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels. While we have successfully blocked or delayed construction of coal terminals, there are also plans to build port facilities for oil and natural gas on the Pacific shores of the State of Washington. Since the continued burning of fossil fuels will only worsen the climate crisis and make dirty weather events more likely here and around the world, we have to act fast and effectively to block these projects as well.

There are three proposals for oil terminals in Grays Harbor (near Aberdeen, WA). Two of them are being combined into joint hearings and public comment time. This is similar to the coal train scoping hearings but is much smaller, almost like the authorities are trying to keep it under the radar. The folks at Hoquiam are doing a great job but there is fear that the Centralia hearing will have low attendance. These terminals along with all of the other proposed oil by rail projects will make the NW the site of a KXL by rail.


We need as many people as possible to attend these hearings and even more to send in public comments. You have to send in either by snail mail or through web site

To post a public comment, please visit: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/geographic/graysharbor/terminals.html
Comments will be accepted until May 27th.

If at all possible, please attend a hearing so that the Department of Ecology knows that the people of Washington reject these new proposals for oil terminals. Here are the dates for the scoping hearings concerning the two proposals in Hoquiam.

Meetings are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with public comment beginning at 6 p.m. You do not need to be present the entire time.
- April 24: Hoquiam High School Commons, 501 W. Emerson Ave.
- April 29: Centralia High School Commons, 813 Eshom Road.


More Information for your comments or testimony:

Oil is Bakken crude fracked in North Dakota – expanded capacity could also serve as infrastructure to move Canadian tar sands. Oil spills and train explosions are serious threats.

Currently, there are 10 proposals in Oregon and Washington which would raise the capacity to 785,000 barrels per day with 11 loaded trains carrying this highly flammable fossil fuel.

Imperium Renewal:-
70.000 barrels per day – 1 loaded train per dayWestway-
26,300 barrels per day – 1 loaded train every two days
US Development (not in the scoping process yet)-
50,000 barrels per day – just under 1 loaded train per day


http:/ww.sightline.org/research/the-northwests-pipeline-on-rails/

[pscot]

1. Add to that another 40 0r 50 coal trains

if coal shipment from Bellingham is approved. And consider that each train also has to return empty along B&N tracks beside Puget Sound. The vibrations would have bluffs sliding from Edmunds to Federal way. Inslee has been too quiet on this subject. I was hoping to see more leadership from our environmental governor.

[LeftOfWest]

2. Thank you for all you contribute here eridani.

I have passed this Washington site onto many of my lib pals.

Info is so valuable.

Enough with these trains of death. Hear them every single day and nite from my home.

[eridani]

3. If you can hear them, you are close enough to be in serious danger.

In Seattle, I'm terrified of trains blocking emergency vehicles as well as their other dangers.

BTW, I'm 67 and have really crappy genes. If I stop posting here due to hospitalization or passing on, I really hope someone will take over as unofficial godmother/godfather of this forum.

[countryjake]

4. You are irreplaceable, eridani.

Nobody could ever do as good a job of keeping us all informed as you have.