The industry-provided analysis referred to in the Aug. 22 online story “Analysis: Oil terminal could have $2 billion impact” is basically meaningless to citizens trying to make a truly informed decision. Inviting 400 to 500 explosive rail cars a day into the community to transfer about 15 million gallons of volatile crude oil to tanks and ships is serious business, and needs total understanding.
In effect, the constituents of the Port of Vancouver are being asked to sell their current safety, potential health, and moral values for some pie-in-the-sky $1.6 billion over 15 years. The direct, indirect, and induced economic value of labor dollars depends on such things as where the labor comes from, the ability of that labor to bargain maximum wages and benefits, and the likelihood that optimum wages, health care and pensions will churn over and over in the local economy for years and years to come. The two years of construction and the 10 to 15 years of operation of the terminal guarantees none of that.
I agree that a transfer terminal is bound to be built somewhere. If it is here, get a fair price for your environment and your community.
Phillip A. Massey
Kalama
