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March 28, 2024

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Letter: Heed warnings from oil spill

The Columbian
Published: January 30, 2015, 4:00pm

Much was learned from the 1,611-gallon oil spill from a BNSF oil tanker car. The oil spill was discovered on Nov. 5 by inspectors when the tank car arrived at BP’s Cherry Point refinery. Not only was there a lack of communication when the spill was discovered, we are only hearing about it months later, thanks to coverage by The Columbian (“State, local officials not notified of oil spill,” Jan. 27).

• BNSF has 30 days to notify the “feds.”

• BNSF may feel little or no responsibility when a spill is not on their property, even when it is a BNSF tanker that leaked the oil.

• BP is said to be “taking it seriously.”

• Tesoro Savage is silent. We don’t know if they are taking it seriously.

When the investigation is completed, we should all take seriously that canaries are in coal mines for a reason. Regardless of cause or fault, it will always be the citizens of Washington who suffer most if we fail to heed warnings of the metaphorical canaries.

Howard Leighty

Vancouver

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