Photo: Paloma Ayala
What we learned
By: Miles Johnson, Legal Director
As you may know, the window to comment on federal review of NEXT’s proposed diesel refinery just ended. Columbia Riverkeeper’s team of attorneys—with help from subject-matter experts, as well as lawyers at Advocates for the West and Northwest Environmental Defence Center—submitted technical and legal comments explaining why the Army Corps of Engineers’ environmental review of NEXT is inadequate. Our comments also explain why NEXT’s project would violate the Clean Water Act and should not receive federal permits. Your generous support for Columbia Riverkeeper makes this kind of detailed technical and legal review possible!
Here are some key points and findings from our comments about NEXT’s refinery:
- Much of NEXT’s fuel wouldn’t meet Portland or California’s renewable fuel standards.
- NEXT would emit over 1 million tons of greenhouse gasses each year, and the refinery’s direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions would cause $20 billion dollars of economic and social harm each year.
- Refinery operations would generate 100,000 tons of solid waste each year, which would be trucked to undisclosed locations.
- NEXT would permanently destroy over 100 acres of wetlands in the Columbia River estuary, but the proposed wetland mitigation plan is unlikely to succeed and violates Clean Water Act rules.
- The analysis ignored alternatives to NEXT’s project that would be less risky or harmful to the environment.
This comment period showed, once again, that thousands of people and organizations care passionately about protecting the Columbia River estuary, salmon, and sustainable farms from NEXT’s massive refinery. We are so grateful for the outpouring of thoughtful, informed, and heartfelt comments opposing this project.If you submitted comments, gave testimony at a virtual hearing, or signed a petition, THANK YOU! Together, we will continue to oppose this harmful, misguided project.