Perilous Fuel Tanks: Oregon’s Ticking Time Bomb

Please join us on December 4 for the online event Perilous Fuel Tanks: Oregon’s Ticking Time Bomb. This event is a panel discussion about the long-reaching environmental effects of a collapse of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEI Hub); the statewide consequences for our fuel supply; and past, current, and future state actions. The panelists will answer questions that attendees submit beforehand when they register for the event.

• What: Perilous Fuel Tanks: Oregon’s Ticking Time Bomb
• Date: December 4, 2025
• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Online
• Register to Join: Register using this link: bit.ly/4heBKXa

Background

The CEI Hub holds 90 percent of Oregon’s liquid fuel supply and is located along the banks of the Willamette River in Northwest Portland, across the street from Forest Park and close to where the Willamette meets the Columbia River. Many of these fuel tanks were built over 70 years ago, before seismic standards were in place, and are located on liquefiable infill soil. This location is considered a quadruple hazard zone because it is vulnerable to earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, floods, and has great potential for a massive oil spill. With the growing risk of urban forest fires and the likelihood of the Cascadia Subduction Zone (“CSZ”) earthquake, these tanks are in a perilous position. Without significant changes, one event could lead to a complete collapse of our state’s fuel system and cause a multi-billion-dollar public health and environmental disaster. A disaster at the CEI Hub will have far-reaching impacts and will affect the entire state.

Panelists will include: 

Moderator – Michael Dembrow, retired Oregon State Senator

Michael Dembrow retired from the Oregon legislature in 2025 after representing Southeast Portland, first as a state representative (HD 45, 2009-2013) and then as a state senator (SD 23, 2013-2025). Dembrow was the champion of Senate Bill 1567 (2022), which created the first regulations designed to reduce the seismic risks of the state’s largest bulk fuel terminals. This bill is the first step towards protecting against infrastructure failure during a major seismic event.

Representative Thuy Tran

Thuy Tran has represented Northeast Portland House District 45 since 2023. During the 2025 legislative session, Representative Tran successfully shepherded four CEI Hub-related bills through her House Emergency Management Committee to the joint Ways & Means Committee. None were funded. She plans to bring some of these policies back in 2026. Representative Tran has made protecting the state from a major disaster at the CEI Hub one of her top legislative priorities.

Luke Hanst

Luke works at Portland State University as the Partnerships Manager for the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. In that capacity, he has researched and reported key findings on risks associated with the CEI Hub, including a 2023 report for Multnomah County on the risks of toxic releases from a CSZ earthquake. Hanst has worked closely as an expert advisor and stakeholder convener with state and local policymakers, businesses, and community advocates. 

Kate Murphy

Kate is the Senior Community Organizer at Columbia Riverkeeper. She supports community members along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington, engaging residents and fighting to protect our region from fuel refineries, pipelines, terminals, and other threats to the Columbia River ecosystem.