Since 2017, we have joined with community members and nonprofits to fight the Zenith oil-by-rail terminal in Portland, OR. After promising to ditch crude oil, Zenith intends to expand its Portland, OR, terminal while continuing to handle fossil fuels.
The Problem
Transporting fossil fuels by rail is bad for public health and safety, our climate, and clean water. Zenith Energy’s Portland Terminal is a former asphalt facility that became a fossil fuel transloading facility in 2013. The 39-acre site has 84 tanks with a total storage capacity of over 1.5 million barrels. In 2017, Zenith quietly started receiving tar sands and crude oil on mile-long trains from Canada and North Dakota. Most, if not all, of the product Zenith handles is destined for other places in the U.S.—it’s not used here in Oregon.
Trains carrying combustible fuels—both fossil fuels and “renewable” fuels— are incredibly dangerous. The fuel inside the railcars is highly pressurized. Derailments are not uncommon, and when they happen, one or more of the railcars could explode, burn, or leak. At a time when it is critical to reduce the use of these harmful fuels, Zenith is doubling down on its plans to expand.
How We Engage
For years, Columbia Riverkeeper’s team of grassroots community organizers and attorneys worked have with community partners to advocate for an end to Zenith’s dangerous oil-by-rail operations. Case-in-point: we partnered with Willamette Riverkeeper to sue Zenith for violating the Clean Water Act, a lawsuit we settled on favorable terms. We will continue the fight to stop dangerous fuel trains from threatening people and clean water—and we won’t stop until Zenith is no longer a danger.
Stop Zenith Oil-By-Rail
For years, Zenith Energy has put our communities and our environment at risk. Now Zenith has a dangerous plan to expand its operations in Portland, increasing the threat of harm.
Frequently Asked Questions: Zenith Energy
What is Zenith Energy?
Zenith’s facility, located at 5501 NW Front Ave., has operated as a petroleum products storage terminal since 1947, originally as Willbridge Asphalt Refinery. The 39-acre site has 84 tanks with a total storage capacity of 1,518,200 barrels. The asphalt refinery ceased operations in November 2006 and was officially closed in December 2008. Around 2013, Zenith’s predecessor, Arc Logistics, started using the facility to refine crude oil. Zenith took over in December 2017 and within one month was importing tar sands and crude oil to the Portland Terminal on mile-long trains from Canada and North Dakota.
What is the current status of Zenith?
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is currently considering whether to issue an Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) that would allow Zenith to continue operating. Learn more here.
Big News!
Pressure from the public and strong advocacy from City Council members led the Portland City Council to overwhelmingly (11-1) pass a resolution to investigate Zenith. This is a huge step towards accountability.
This comes after the previously scheduled Zenith public hearings were canceled in late 2024 by the DEQ and the public comment period put on hold after an unannounced inspection of Zenith’s facility. The DEQ found Zenith had illegally constructed a pipeline and was illegally using a dock for marine loading of fossil fuels. This led to DEQ issuing Zenith a fine of $372,600 and requiring a new Land Use Compatibility Statement from the City of Portland.
This is a big deal! The DEQ stated this investigation is the direct result of probing questions from community members during the public process. Community organizing works! This is not the end of the Zenith saga, but it is a clear sign that regulators are taking our concerns seriously. Whatever happens, we will be ready! Stay tuned for more information coming soon.
Background
In January 2021, DEQ notified Zenith that the company’s recent expansion project and the associated increase in throughput at the facility triggered the need for the company to obtain a new Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) from the City. The LUCS process gave the City the opportunity to evaluate Zenith’s operations against the City’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan, which includes numerous goals and policies aimed at protecting the health and safety of City residents.
On August 27, 2021, the City of Portland denied Zenith’s application for a LUCS, declaring that the potential adverse impact of Zenith’s oil-by-rail facility on the environment and historically marginalized communities is not compatible with the City’s Comprehensive Plan policies.
The City’s decision came just weeks after the release of a new draft study highlighting the significant risks associated with storing large quantities of fossil fuels in Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub. The study noted that tanks in the CEI Hub that were constructed before 1990 are likely to spill 50 to 100 percent of their contents during a major seismic event—all of Zenith’s tanks fall into this category.
The City’s decision to deny the LUCS was a big deal: Without a LUCS, Zenith’s application to the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a renewed Title V air pollution permit is incomplete.
Zenith appealed the LUCS denial to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and lost. Zenith then appealed that decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals and lost again. Finally, Zenith appealed the decision to the Oregon Supreme Court. Unfortunately, days before the Supreme Court chose not to hear the appeal, the City of Portland—without any public input—quickly and quietly approved a third LUCs for Zenith Energy, approving five more years of dangerous oil operations in exchange for a promise to switch to “renewable” fuels in five years.
What is next?
We are partnering with other local organizations and community members to support the investigation of Zenith by the City and demand that the City reconsider its approvals of Zenith’s activities.
Oregon DEQ is currently considering whether to grant an Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) for Zenith. The public comment period is open until May 30 at 5:00 p.m. and we need all hands on deck to make sure Zenith is not allowed to continue putting our communities and our planet at risk.
Watch: Zenith Comment Writing Workshop
Timeline of Events:
- December 2017: Zenith takes over and begins transporting crude oil and tar sands by rail
- Mid-late 2018: Zenith increases rail unloading rack capacity (four-fold) resulting in increased throughput (oil moving through the facility) in following years
- October 2019: City of Portland denies Zenith’s request to build three pipes beneath Front Ave.
- January 2020: Columbia Riverkeeper and WIllamette Riverkeeper file a Notice of Intent to sue Zenith for violation of its Construction Stormwater permit
- May 2020: Zenith withdrawals request to build three pipes above Front Ave.
- January 2021: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requires a new Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) from the City of Portland before renewing Zenith’s Clean Air Act permit.
- August 2021: Zenith settles for violation of its Stormwater Construction permit and agrees to pay $115,000 to Audubon Society
- August 2021: City of Portland denies Zenith’s request for LUCS
- August 2021: Zenith appeals the denial of the LUCs to Land Use Board of Appeals
- September 2021: Oregon DEQ proposes denial of Zenith’s Title V air permit
- October 2021: Zenith appeals DEQ’s proposed denial of the Title V air permit
- February 2022: Land Use Board of Appeals finds in favor of the City having the authority to deny the LUCS
- February 2022: Zenith appeals the Land Use Board of Appeals decision (on the LUCs) to the Oregon Court of Appeals
- May 2022: The Oregon Court of Appeals affirms the decision from LUBA giving the City of Portland authority to use its comprehensive plan to deny Zenith’s request for a LUCS
- June 2022: Zenith appeals the Oregon Court of Appeals decision to the Oregon Supreme Court
- September 2022: Zenith applies for a third LUCS, while the first LUCS remains pending at the Oregon Supreme Court
- October 3, 2022: City of Portland quietly approves Zenith’s third request for a LUCS, paving the way for Zenith to continue transporting crude oil for another five years before transitioning to “renewable” fuels.
- October 6, 2022: The Oregon Supreme Court denies Zenith’s appeal of the City’s denial of the original LUCS
- November 1, 2022: Twenty environmental justice and community groups send a letter to the City of Portland demanding a reconsideration of the LUCS approval and requiring public input on the decision
- November 21, 2022: The Bureau of Development Services sent a response to the November 1 letter, kicking the can down the road to DEQ.
- March 25, 2023: Portland City Auditor finds Zenith violated Portland City lobbying code in 2022 in order to obtain its Land Use Compatibility Statement.
- January 2, 2024: City of Portland approves the construction of three additional pipes under Front Avenue, after amending Zenith’s franchise agreement to accommodate the addition of the pipes.
- November 9, 2024: Columbia Riverkeeper publishes Zenith Energy’s Legacy of Violations and Lies exposing Zenith’s long history of noncompliance.
- November 14, 2024: The DEQ pauses the public comment period to investigate Zenith based largely on information received from the public in an information session hosted by DEQ.
- December 6, 2024: The DEQ issues a $372,600 fine to Zenith for illegal construction and operations dating back roughly three years, which were discovered during the investigation.
- February 3, 2025: Portland City Administrators approve an additional LUCS to Zenith which allows for further expansion of operations.
- March 19, 2025: Portland City Council votes 11-1 to launch an investigation into Zenith.
- What’s Next?: Shutting down Zenith and stopping dangerous oil trains! The DEQ public comment period for Zenith’s draft air permit is happening now. Learn more here.
