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Longview: Oil Refinery & Propane Terminal are Dirty & Dangerous

Image courtesy of the Port of Longview.

Take a moment and flex your muscle. The strength of community power defeated not one, but TWO, dangerous and dirty fossil fuel terminals on the Columbia River. In one day! In a unanimous vote, the Port of Longview commissioners rejected the Waterside oil refinery and propane export terminal.

Because of your work, we warded off the threat of the first-ever Columbia River oil refinery.  We also defeated the third propane export terminal on the Columbia River in one year. Remarkable. Previous failed proposals include Pembina at the Port of Portland and Haven Energy at the Port of Longview. This is democracy at work.

This victory sends a strong message to Big Coal: Longview has the power to send dirty fossil fuel projects packing.  The Millennium Bulk Terminals coal export terminal is next. Regulators plan to release the Millennium Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) this spring. Please stay involved to support record-breaking turnout at public meetings for the Millennium DEIS and send a clear message to regulators: Longview is not a dumping ground for dirty fossil fuels.

Your donations are making a difference. Please celebrate this victory by supporting Riverkeeper with a donation today, either online or mailed to 111 Third Street, Hood River, OR 97031.

In the news:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Port of Longview Rejects Proposed Columbia River Oil Refinery and Propane Export Terminal
Port of Longview, image courtesy of The Daily News.

Feb. 23, 2016 (Longview, WA) – The Port of Longview commissioners voted unanimously to end negotiations with Waterside Energy, the backers of a controversial oil refinery and propane export terminal. Waterside proposed the first west coast oil refinery in 25 years and the first ever on the Columbia River.

Local educators, first responders, and conservation groups praised the Port’s decision. "I've taught in schools near oil refineries—the smell was hard to live with but the rate of childhood cancer was devastating. Today, the port commission did the right thing for Longview’s children,” said Krista Mead, elementary school teacher at Columbia Valley Garden Elementary School.

Waterside proposed serving the refinery and the propane terminal with trains. “If there was a large oil train incident, we would have to call in help from outside areas to respond to the current level of flammable materials traveling through our service area,” said Glen Hudson, a volunteer with the Cowlitz 2 fire department. “The port commission rejected a project that we are unprepared to respond to. Statistics from 2016 already reveal that we are facing a higher volume of emergency response calls—our resources are already being stretched too thin. If the fire department expanded to meet the risk that Waterside poses, taxpayers would bear the burden.”

The Port’s decision marks the latest in a string of defeats for fossil fuel projects on the Columbia River. In addition to Waterside, the Port of Longview previously rejected a propane export terminal by Haven Energy. The City of Portland rejected a propane terminal proposed by Pembina.

“Our region values clean water and healthy communities,” said Brett VandenHeuvel, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper. “Dirty fossil fuel projects fly in the face of these values. The Port of Longview heard loud and clear from its constituents: an oil refinery and propane terminal are dirty and dangerous.”

“This community presented a compelling argument against the Waterside oil refinery and propane terminal,” stated Kelso resident Linda Horst. “By voting ‘no’, our port commissioners demonstrated a sincere desire to work not only for the community, but with the community. I thank them for the resounding ‘no’ vote.”

Oil refinery opponents flagged the checkered history of Waterside Energy. In 2014, Waterside Energy’s backers abandoned their biodiesel facility in Odessa, Washington, firing all employees and leaving over $1.6 million in unpaid bills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted an emergency cleanup at the site after discovering dangerous, leaking chemicals. Today’s vote ends two years of negotiations –largely behind closed doors – to build the first oil refinery on the Columbia.

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About Columbia Riverkeeper  
Columbia Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. Representing over 8,000 members and supporters, Columbia Riverkeeper works to restore a Columbia River where people can safely eat the fish they catch, and where children can swim without fear of toxic exposure. The organization is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, the world’s fastest growing environmental movement, uniting more than 200 Waterkeeper organizations worldwide. For more information go to columbiariverkeeper.org.


Resources:

Leaking process equipment from the abandoned Transmessis bio-diesel operation, which the EPA cleaned up.

transmessis 1
Bio-diesel facility in Odessa, WA previously run by Waterside Energy’s backers. Emergency cleanup by the EPA cost an estimated $400,000.