The Columbian deserves kudos for its Feb. 18 front-page coverage of yet another railroad oil spill derailment (West Virginia), and for the excellent accompanying “Oil terminal a bad idea” editorial.
It’s going to take a concerted effort by those of us living here to assure that the proposed oil terminal at the Port of Vancouver is not built. The terminal and long trains feeding it daily with crude oil via the Columbia River Gorge would become a dangerous time bomb planted in our midst, with widespread negatives that far outweigh any local benefits. And it would be the largest such terminal in the United States.
Does this issue merit as much or more attention than where to place “In God We Trust” mottos? Let’s hope so.
Tarmo Ketchem
Camas
