Larry Paulson, former director of Port of Vancouver, being a nonvoting member on the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council for the proposed Tesoro-Savage oil terminal is abhorrent. This is the same Larry Paulson who testified at a Vancouver City Council meeting that Clark County citizens are getting light rail from Portland “like it or not” and they will pay for it “like it or not.”
Tesoro and the EFSEC heard experts in ecology, medicine, law, and firefighting testify how detrimental transport and storage of fracked oil is to our communities. The ecological impact and health to the citizens who live in this geographic area by bringing a major oil products terminal to the Port of Vancouver is unconscionable. My own testimony at Port of Vancouver public hearing stated that 11,000 signatures were presented from residents in the Fruit Valley/Hough areas prior to the port’s closed session and approval of the Tesoro-Savage lease.
Now toxic chemicals and diesel fumes will be shoved up our noses by the Tesoro subterfuge and Port of Vancouver alliance as they continue to do business as usual telling us “Vancouver and Washington need Tesoro-Savage fracked oil money” while our localities’ health and safety, and the fishing, wine and tourism industries take the hit.
Sharon Dienstbier Conser
Vancouver
