UPDATE: Public Comment Period Extended to November 30th, 2015
The Washington Department of Ecology and the City of Hoquiam recently released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Westway and Imperium Oil Terminals within Grays Harbor. Between now and October 29th, we are asking Surfrider activists to speak up and help us protect this special place from dirty fossil fuel export.
We've been calling BS on this one for a number of years and the time is now: come out and speak up against the proposed crude oil export terminals in Grays Harbor.
We need YOU and hundreds of your family, friends and neighbors to attend the upcoming public hearings to oppose the dangerous and dirty oil terminal proposals. Together, let’s urge decision makers to deny the permits based on community concerns of the costs and impacts to our livelihoods, local jobs, important recreation areas, and our natural resources. The impacts on existing uses of recreation and fishing would have a huge negative impact to the local economy and state.
Right now we have an opportunity to say no to these projects but we need all of you to come out and speak up at the public hearings.
October 8 in Aberdeen
Public hearings are from 1:00-4:30pm & 6:00-9:00 pm at D&R Theater 205 South I St
Rally is at 5:00 pm at Zalensko Park
October 1 in Elma
(If you can’t attend rally and hearing in Aberdeen)
Public hearings are from 1:00-4:30pm & 6:00-9:00 pm at Satsop Business Park, Flextech Building, 100 Technology Way, Elma
Each proposal would result in mile-long trains carrying explosive crude oil along the old railroad tracks through the Grays Harbor communities, over the Chehalis River and then put on vessels and sent out through the Harbor. The significant increase in vessel traffic would greatly increase the probability of a major spill that would have a devastating impact on the entire Washington coast.
The state Department of Ecology and City of Hoquiam will be seeking input on the Draft Environmental Impact Statements (DEIS) for the Westway and Imperium Terminal proposals and I hope you will be join us. We don't expect everyone to be able to read the entire 1500 page document, ain't nobody got time for that, fortunately for you we are slogging thru it and will have key bullet points to focus on to save your time and focus your energy towards fighting these bad proposals.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend one of the hearings. If you are coming from afar, we would be happy to help arrange transportation for you, contact WA Field Manager Brice Boland.
Please comment by printing, signing, and submitting our GH Oil Terminal Business Sign-on Letter to the address below or draft your own comments.
Westway and Imperium Terminal Services Expansion Projects EISs
c/o ICF International / 710 Second Street, Suite 550 / Seattle, WA 98104
The risk of an oil spill or accident is not theoretical; we have seen oil trains explode across North America, including the tragic accident in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, that killed 47 people in 2013. We have seen oil spills all along the rail route. And in 1988, one year before the Exxon Valdez, the Nestucca barge 231,000-gallon spill of heavy oil off Grays Harbor fouled beaches from Oregon to Vancouver Island and killed 56,000 sea birds.
Washington's ocean, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures that will be polluted by an increase in the transportation of fossil fuels thru sensitive ecological areas. Instead of pursuing transient and environmentally harmful ways to meet America’s energy needs, we should seek comprehensive and environmentally sustainable energy solutions, including energy conservation.
