As chair of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), I stressed public involvement. Community acceptance depends on the public having had a fair opportunity to be heard. Regrettably, this no longer seems to be the case. Tesoro and EFSEC are competing for the role of “The Grinch That Stole Christmas.”
EFSEC has decided, at Tesoro’s urging, to limit public involvement on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 45 days over the holiday season. Tesoro says the process is too long, but it caused the delay itself by submitting such a slipshod document to begin with (“Campaigning for hearts and minds,” The Columbian, Oct. 18).
Our port says it believes strongly in public involvement. Does it? If so, it should urge that public comment start on Jan. 1, 2016. EFSEC and Tesoro can do it but need a nudge. Will the port “walk its public involvement talk” and urge a 30-day holiday respite? Or will it support Tesoro’s asking for review of a complex, technical and lengthy EIS over Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and New Year’s. From a developer’s perspective, there could be no better time within which to force public review.
What will our port do?
