Over 80 Puget Sound residents showed up last week at the BP Cherry Point Refinery Draft Environmental Impact Statement Rally and Hearing in Seattle last Thursday, July 24, to voice their concerns about an expansion of the refinery. The dangers community members were concerned about were made even more stark earlier that morning, when three train cars carrying crude oil derailed in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood.
Earth Ministry’s Pastor Erik Wilson Weiberg of Ballard First Lutheran Church in Seattle was one of four speakers at the rally before the protest. Several Earth Ministry members came out for the event, and both Pastor Erik and staff member Karin Frank testified at the hearing, speaking on behalf of people of faith who believe in protecting our communities and ecosystems from dangerous fossil fuels. Everyone who spoke at the hearing was strongly concerned by the risk of accidents and opposed to any increase in oil transportation.
You can read more about the hearing and the oil car derailment in the Seattle Times.