LONGVIEW — Confronted by safety concerns, Port of St. Helens commissioners Wednesday postponed a decision on a proposal to expand the type and amount of crude oil that can be shipped to Port Westward.
A potential $75 million investment and increase of 40 jobs may be riding on whatever decision the commissioners make.
New England-based Global Partners is asking the port for an amendment to its lease at Port Westward to eliminate restrictions on the type of shipments it can bring in from the Columbia Bio-Refinery north of Clatskanie. It also wants to expand the length of the trains by 50 percent — to 1.5 miles.
The trains pass through the heart of downtown Rainier and several other southern Columbia County communities en route to Port Westward.
Commissioners’ next chance to vote will be their Dec. 12 meeting.
