This comment period has closed and the Stand Up to Oil Coalition gathered a record-breaking 276,296 comments! Thanks to faith advocates for speaking up.
Big oil is threatening Vancouver, Washington, and rail communities along the Columbia River. According to the Vancouver Columbian, Tesoro and Savage companies propose to build and operate the largest oil-by-rail facility in the United States, shipping a staggering 360,000 barrels of crude oil a day. To put it in perspective, that’s 42% of the capacity of the (rejected) Keystone XL pipeline. It boils down to at least 4 mile and a half long trains of explosive oil through our communities every day! People of faith know this is a step backwards and that Washington can do better.
In 2014, the City of Vancouver voted to oppose the Tesoro-Savage oil-by-rail terminal. The City’s resolution cites safety, environmental, and economic concerns. In November 2015, the City of Portland also passed a resolution against the oil terminal. But the final decision on the project remains in the hands of Governor Inslee and the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council who must evaluate the steep costs of oil-by-rail in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Gov. Inslee and his advisers need to hear from YOU that this irresponsible project does not align with your values of stewardship, safety, and justice. Raise your voice as a person of faith by signing on to Earth Ministry’s letter and adding your comment below.
Speak up in person at public hearings in Vancouver on January 5 or Spokane on January 7. [ninja_form id=7]