I am writing concerning the proposed Tesoro/Savage oil-by-rail terminal construction project. I was recently visited by a representative of the Columbia Riverkeeper organization, and his information seemed as credible as it was startling.
I am concerned about the environmental impact that the proposed oil-by-rail terminal could have on the region. With an annual capacity of over 4 billion gallons of crude oil transported via 36 weekly trains measuring more than 4 miles long each, the risk or likelihood of a spill is overwhelming — that roughly calculates to a 23 percent chance of a spill every year. The odds of an actual train derailment are closer to one every other year, which is still unacceptable.
More than 100 Vancouver businesses have already allied in opposition to this terminal being constructed.
There must be a better way to create jobs and increase revenue for the area without sacrificing what we hold so close to our hearts here in the Pacific Northwest– our environment. There have been more than 276,000 public comments on the DEIS, the most ever received by Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, echoing this message. It is clear that it has become big business vs. the local population, and we must not concede.
