Tell DEQ: No more oil trains on the Columbia River 

Tell DEQ: No more oil trains on the Columbia River 

By Erin Saylor, Staff Attorney

We need your help to protect Columbia River communities from dangerous oil trains. 

• The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is currently accepting comments on the draft air pollution permit for Global Partners’ Port Westward facility, also known as the Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery. Located in the Columbia River estuary, Global Partners’ crude oil transloading facility threatens public safety, salmon, and clean water.  
• ACT: Click here to send DEQ a public comment.
• SPEAK UP: Participate in DEQ’s online public hearing on Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. Instructions for joining the webinar are found in the public notice.

People in the Pacific Northwest know that oil trains are reckless. The so-called pipelines on rail pose unacceptable risks to public safety, health, and clean water. We learned these lessons first-hand when an oil train derailed, spilled, and burned in Mosier, Oregon, in 2016. Yet, the oil industry continues to push forward new plans and schemes to increase oil-train traffic through our region.