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PAUL K ANDERSON
Not one but two oil-by-rail terminals? That’s just crude

For almost two years, we’ve been keeping an eye on plans for the proposed Tesoro-Savage oil terminal in Vancouver, WA—the largest proposed crude-by-rail terminal in the nation.  Now, a second proposal by NuStar Energy would bring an additional 800,000 gallons per day or more of crude oil by rail through Vancouver.
 
Join us in urging the City of Vancouver to deny a second oil-by-rail terminal. The City must now order an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that takes a realistic look at the danger of bringing more oil trains through Vancouver, the Columbia River Gorge, the Tri-Cities, and Spokane. 
 
Vancouver is accepting public comments on the scope of the NuStar environmental review, through May 4th. This is your chance to urge the city to make sure that its EIS is broad and thorough, taking into consideration the upstream, downstream, and local impacts of additional, dangerous crude-by-rail shipments.
 
Vancouver has taken a big step by deciding to do an EIS: let’s help them take the next step in saying NO to crude oil-by-rail.
 
About NuStar’s Proposal:

  • NuStar’s proposal would require new rail, dock, and vapor combustion infrastructure to allow an unused methanol facility to receive crude oil via unit trains, store the oil, and load it onto ocean-going vessels.
  • Although smaller in volume than the Tesoro-Savage proposal, NuStar’s proposed terminal would increase the number of dangerous, polluting oil trains that would travel through Vancouver and through the Columbia River Gorge.  Many residents are concerned about the likelihood that this terminal could be  expanded into an even larger facility down the road.
  •  NuStar would likely ship the same type of explosive Bakken oil in the same type of rail cars that have derailed, exploded, and caught fire in over a dozen oil train accidents since 2013.

Let’s say NO!

Author Bio

Joelle Robinson
Joëlle Robinson

Field Director, Climate Solutions

Joëlle engages community members and diverse constituencies—faith, health, youth, parents, business—to make their voices heard for climate solutions. She led the team of organizers to ensure we stopped any coal export from the U.S. West Coast over the past decade. On offense, she co-led the Field team to help pass the 100% Clean Electricity (Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019) and in 2022 collaborated with the Field team to ensure that all new buildings (commercial and residential) will be built with heat pumps per the State Building Code Council. She continues to conspire for good with them on many other local and state initiatives.

Joëlle was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Previous work with Climate Solutions includes the NW Climate Connections partnership, serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign, and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which passed in April 2006.

She previously served on the boards of Earth Ministry, Solar Washington, and Sierra Club Executive Committee. She’s currently President of the board of her 3 year-old!

Joëlle is Northwest born and raised who loves to hike, dance, travel and explore the natural world.

Her favorite quote is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —  Mary Oliver

Give for a brighter future

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