docp. 8-16 - Columbia Riverkeeper
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p. 8-16 - Columbia Riverkeeper
Over the past three months, our staff has traveled throughout Washington and Oregon, and even to Canada, working to protect and restore the Columbia River. Maybe you joined us at a rally to Power Past Coal, in the Columbia River to test water quality, on a tour of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation or the proposed liquified natural gas pipeline route. Here are a few notes from staff travels. Oil-by-Rail: Coming to a town near you? Sustainable Business Oregon invited Riverkeeper Executive Director, Brett VandenHeuvel, to submit an op-ed on the current proposal to build a massive oil terminal at the Port of Vancouver. JULY 29, 2013 - The Port of Vancouver rejected a coal export terminal last year because, in part, of public opposition to dirty coal fouling our river, businesses and communities. in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, killing at least 47 people. This is the very same Bakken oil and the very same oil-by-rail transport method the Port recruited. We’ve all seen the horrific footage of what can happen when an oil train derails in Learn more about the Port of a town. The Port noted its concern about coal dust coating cars in its Subaru Vancouver proposal & other What we don’t know is why the import lot. The Port’s wise decision Northwest oil-by-rail Bakken oil train exploded. The to protect its other tenants means proposals: www.columbiariverkeeper.org/ investigators are taking oil samples those Subarus are still coal-free. I our-work/oil-by-rail from the derailed cars today to see a new marketing opportunity in understand what is it about BakPortland! ken oil that could create such a violent explosion. But the Port quietly courted an equally nefarious cargo – Bakken Oil – for a huge oil-by-rail export The Port held a public hearing July 22 about Tesoro’s plans to build the largest oil terminal on the West terminal on the Columbia River. The Columbian newspaper reported the Port’s attempts to keep the Coast, up to 380,000 barrels per day, which is nearly dealings with oil-giant Tesoro quiet. The Port clearly half the capacity of the Keystone XL pipeline. Tesoro realized that an Exxon Valdez spill in the Columbia projects that four mile-long oil trains per day would River Estuary, the lynchpin to salmon recovery, travel from the Bakken oil field in North Dakota, would devastate our region. through the Columbia River Gorge, dozens of communities, and downtown Vancouver. From the The Port kept the Tesoro oil-by-rail plans under the Port, oil tankers would sail down the Estuary and radar for months – and then all hell broke loose. into the Pacific, en route to west coast oil refineries. A train carrying Bakken oil derailed and exploded in I watched dozens of people ask the Port to request safety information on Bakken oil, wait until the explosion investigation is complete, or flat-out reject oil as a commodity not fit for the Columbia River. I saw the local ILWU President tell the Port that even though oil export might bring some jobs, the Longshore Union opposed the project. And I listened to a major developer of the Vancouver waterfront tell the Port that the threat of oil trains, or even the perceived threat, may hurt his ability to secure tenants to obtain insurance. MAP COURTESY OF SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE On Tuesday, the Port signed the lease. 10 COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER | Summer 2013 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION The Port touted its location between the Bakken oil fields and the Pacific Ocean. But there is another side of that “location, location, location” equation: the downside of bringing dirty oil into our region. The Port, unfortunately, did not consider whether an oil export terminal and trains will decrease property values. It did not look at the impact to the reputation of a growing Vancouver and our entire metro area. And most problematic, it failed to evaluate why the Bakken oil train in Quebec exploded. Take a drive along the railroad tracks in Vancouver, past riverside condos, a couple blocks from City Hall, and an ambitious new waterfront project. There are many neighborhoods and businesses whose location just got a lot worse. Fortunately, the Port of Vancouver is not the final arbiter of this oil-by-rail experiment. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will have the final say. Due to the enormous size of Tesoro’s proposal, the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council will take a hard look at the impacts and make a recommenda- GRAPH COURTESY OF SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE tion to the Governor to approve or deny. I am hopeful that the governor will consider the economic and safety impacts of oil-by-rail, as well as the threat to our river and our climate. The ultimate question is this: Should the Columbia River become the fossil fuel highway for oil, coal and liquefied natural gas? I think our communities and our river deserve better. THE PORT OF VANCOUVER PROPOSAL Port Commissioners took the first step toward a massive oil terminal on the Columbia River by signing a lease agreement with Tesoro/Savage. Next, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council will make a recommendation to Washington Governor Jay Inslee on the unprecedented project and, then, the Governor will make the final decision to deny or approve the oil terminal. PHOTO BY PAUL K ANDERSON HELP US STOP BIG OIL • DONATE TODAY! www.columbiariverkeeper.org/donate COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER | Summer 2013 11 12 COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER | Summer 2013 COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER | Summer 2013 13 Holding Big Coal Accountable We are taking a stand against dirty coal in our River! On June 5th, Columbia Riverkeeper and our allies at the Sierra Club, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, North Sound Baykeeper, Spokane Riverkeeper, and Natural Resources Defense Council filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) and several coal companies to stop dirty coal discharges from trains. Under the Clean Water Act, any person or group discharging pollutants from a ‘point source’ into a United States waterway must first obtain a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The lawsuit argues that trains are ‘point sources’ and, thus, BNSF and coal companies are legally required to have a NPDES permit in order to discharge thousands of pounds of coal into waterways nationwide every day. Wyoming. This type of coal breaks apart easily, and contains toxins and heavy metals including mercury, arsenic, and uranium. All of which are ending up in our rivers, lakes, and streams. According to Coal chunks found in the River. BNSF’s own testimony, each rail car loses an average of 500 pounds of coal dust over its 400-mile journey. Coal trains, with an average of 120 rail cars, thus, lose 60,000 pounds of coal dust per trip. And, there are currently four coal trains passing through the Columbia River Gorge state BNSF is one of the largest coal transporters in the every day. Together, they lose a staggering 240,000 United States, shipping nearly 300 million tons of pounds of coal dust a day. This problem will only coal through 28 states each year, interacting with compound if approval is given to the plans for the waterways on every trip. development of at least three coal export The coal transported by BNSF is primarily from the terminals in the Northwest. These proposals, if all Powder River Basin, located in Montana and approved, would increase train traffic 10-fold, from four trains per day to over 40. Thick layer of coal found on the banks of the Columbia River near Stevenson, Washington. The suit shows that these discharges have been ongoing since, at least, 2008, and are likely to continue unless forced to stop. We spent time this winter documenting coal pollution from trains passing through the Columbia River Gorge. A short video we made titled, Illegal Coal Pollution in the Columbia River, highlights dirty coal we found in our River. You can see this video on our website and YouTube channel (http:// www.youtube.com/user/columbiariverkeeper). 14 COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER | Summer 2013 THANK YOU SUPPORTERS Riverkeeper Supporters February 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013 Aaron Diehl Abigail Guyer Adam Dorsey Alan McArthur Albert Brown Alex Brown Alexi Hedlund Alice Yatabe Alison Bryan Alison Levie Allen Neuringer Allison McCarthy Alona Steinke Amanda Haynes Amanda Payne Ana Montenegro Ananda Hardy Andrea Strandberg Andrew Bordeaux Andrew Emlen Andrew Grossman Andrew Kirschbaum Angela Vice Ann Cordero Ann Frodel Ann Littlewood Anna Teske Anne Burton Anne Debbant Anne Hanschu April Ard Aron Roberts Ashley Donkersloot Aveda Institute Portland Avenue Hair Design & Nails LLC Barbara Crocker Barbara O'Halloran Barbara Schramm Beatrice Van Bella Berlly Ben Dennis Ben Hoang Betsy Ayres Betsy Rice Betty Bezzerides Betty Paddock Bill Leigh BK McCollum Bob Cogan Bob Larson Bobbi Brice Boley Law Library Brad Griswold Brad Roberts Brad Yazzolino Brandon Smith Brennen Eller Brent Foster Brian MaGill Brian Pyle Brittany Ruedlinger Bruce Bolme Bruce Ruttenberg Bryan Mull C.J. Homan Candace Broeker Carl Dominey Carl Jameson Carlos Gantz Carol Birdsell Carol Newman Carol Swallow Carolyn Eckel Carolyn Johnson Carolyn M Ray Carolyn Martin Carolyn Stewart Carolyn Stone Carolyn Wieden Carrie Both Carter Case Cassandra Dickson Cathy Aiken Celeste Brockway Celia Davis Cerise Myers Charles J De Sieyes Chelsea Wescott Cherina Sellens Cheryl Johnson Cheryl Levie Cheryl Meyers Chris Sauer Christian Groth Christina Frost Christina Wellman Christine Arthur Christine Pezzulo Christine Streetman Christine Vu Christine Wells Christopher Davis Christopher Kralik Christopher Rall Cindy Wynn Claire LaBrecque Clarence Demase Collin Godkin Craig Pleasants Cris Smith Curt Kane Dan Belica Dan Price Dan Rickfelder Darcie Hays Dave Hancock Dave Strohm David Berger David Hupp David Looney David MacNally David Mesirow David Nichols David Stauffacher David Struthers David Wichmann Debbi Trumbull Debbi Walsh Deborah Kelly Deborah Thrall Debra Bennett Debra Twombly Dell Rhodes Dennis Higgins Devin Vanhousen Diana Clark Diana Yates Diane McClay Dick Dyrland Don Marble Donna Lee Cheney Dory Brooking Doug Adams Doug Ward Douglas Charters Duane VandenHeuvel Duncan Castle Earth Share Oregon Edward Wolf Elizabeth English Elizabeth Metzger Elizabeth Spediacci Elizabeth Van Ellen Trichter Elnora Hertig Elsbeth Martindale Elva Codino Emily French Emily Lethenstrom Eric Thompson Erica Rademaker Faith Forster Florence Sage Fran Lenski Frances Arnold Frances Lavoie Frans Eykel Fred R Huberlie Gail Gregson Galina Zapryagayeva Gary Muehlberg Gayle Kiser Gemma Furno Geoffrey Sears George Exum Georgia Marincovich Gerald Olsen Geri Marz Gervais Day Spa and Salon Gigi Salon and Spa Gina Clark Grace Teigen Greg Hess Gregorio Madueno H Edward Reed Hanh Pan Harold Kriesel Harvey B Wheeler Heather Vice Heidi Shultz Helen Dixon Helen Engle Herman Doscher Hien Sam Hilary Parker Hobe Kytr Hope Harris Ian Jezorek Ian Waite Irene Zimmerman Ireta Graube Isabel Griesser Ivey FredricksonRecanzone J Kirk Leonard James McKee Jamie Wilson Jane Betts-Stover Jane Camero Janet Cook Janet Meserve Janice Milani Jason Salmi Klotz Jean Reid Jeanni Vlastelicia Jeff Whittaker Jennefer Smith Jennifer Gates Jennifer Gourley Jennifer Howe Jenny Nielson Jesse West Jessica Mitchell Jim Scheller JIm Tracy Jo Ellen Vice Joan Carter Joan Hardy Joann Johnson Jocelyn Heller Jody O'Connor Joe Mullen Joel Escandon Johanna Metzger John Albin John Brown John D'Avolio John Hall John Hoffmann John McCarthy John Nybakke John Whittlesey Jonah Cohen Jonathan Soffer Joyce Foster Joyce Sauber Juddi Everts Judi Simmons Judith Holt-Mohar Judith Nelson Judy Krenelka Juliann Ramel Julie Burton Julie Wilcox Justin Spelhaug Justine Madonna Kaitlin Borstelmann Karen Damyanovich Karen Garber Karen Shultz Karin Hylund Karin Temple Kate Getchis Kate Lundin Kate Miller Kate Mills Kate Schuyler Kathleen Carl Kathy Rock Kelly Baumann Kelsey Rodriguez Ken Adee Kerri Greineder Kerstin Adams Khai Nguyen Kim Angelis Kim Fix Kim Robinson Kim Thomas Kira Teppola Kirsten Dennis Kit Malley Kris Gann Kristan Knapp Kristi Eaton Kristin Currin Kristin Froberg Kristin Lee Kylynn Malchow Landon Holt Lani Donovia Larry Anderson Larry Brandt Larry Purchase Laura Guimond Laura McMullen Laura Rossetter Laurel Caplan Laurel Perkins Laurrien Gilman Laverne Cardwell Lawrence Shadbolt Leith Gaines Leona Wright Leonidas Giakoumakis Lewis Richardson Liberty O'Toole Lillian Simeone Linda Green Lindsay Partain Lindsey Mains Lisa Fitzpatrick Lisa Hoffman Lisa Lepine Lisa Patterson Liv Brumfield Lizz Westman Lorelle Bennett Lori Durheim Lorie Gordon Lorrie Haight Louise Christianson Lower Columbia Clinic Lucia Gonzales Lynda Sabin Lynda Sacamano M N Latona Madeline Edwards Maggie Roediger Marc Zolton Margaret Kelter Marie Normandin Marilyn Lalumiere Marilyn Walster Marilynn Knowlson Marja Wilson Marjorie Kircher Marjorie Kundiger Marlyn L Barrick Marni Sickles Marnie Cobbs Marshall Goldberg Martha Stevenson Martha White Marti LeFevre Martin Hetz Mary Denato Mary Langley Mary Louise Lyons Mary Neptune Mary Steller Matt Sullivan Matthew Hilber McLaren Innes Meg Spillman Melissa Porter Melody Shapiro Melody Shellman Meredith Erwin Merrill Watts Michael Haynes Michael Hirsch Michael Meshenuk Michal Kawka Michelle Yelvington Mike Duley Mike Rees Mike Strain Miles Histand Nancy Christie Nancy Munn Nancy Rander Nancy Rhodes Nancy Untener Nancy White Naomi Beymer Nathan Zorich Network For Good New Beginning Salon Nicole Cleary Nicole Harrington Noe Urbano Noelle Schindele Norman Stanley Nova Moisa Olivia Simeone Pam Whiteman Pat Fisher Pat Pettit Patrice Thramer Patricia Dair Patricia Miller Patrick Archie Patrick C Haley Patrick Hiller Patty Larsen Paul Lindberg Paul Majkut Paul Metzger Paul Robinson Paul Sansone Peg Guhn Peggy ThompsonHudon Penny Hunting Penny Ross Peter Bramhall Peter Lowes Phil Oman Phillip Campagna Rachel Babener Rachel Goddin Rachel Perman Randy Krenelka Ray Montameni Rebecca Robinson Renee Fruiht Richard Brusatori Richard Durheim Richard R Calkins Richard Romero Rick Hulett Rick Petersen Rob Boime Robbie English Robert Ewing Robert K Andrews Robert Marvos Robert Stang Roger Burt Roger Hull Roger Rocka Rolf Wallenstrom Ronda Barker Royden Smith Ruth Gedymin Ruth Lusk Ruth Maletz Ruth Meiner Salon Nyla Salon Visio Sandra Boyd Sandra Johansen Sandra Keen Sandy Wood Sarah Bamn Sarah Hall Sarah Predeek Scott Johnson Shannon Leary Sharon McGuire Sheila Shaw Shirley Merritt Stephanie Sherwood Stephanie Wong Stephen McLennon Steve Utaski Steven Rander Sue E Grove Susan Zastoupil Be Cherished Tama Karavias Tamiko Ruhlen Tedine Roos Terry Buchanan Tessa James Scheller Theresa Smith Thomas Buchanan Thomas Duncan Tina Pasto Tom Bender Tom Hartland Tom Larimer Tom May Tom Wilson Tom Wooding Tony Lathim Tracy Bech Trang Sumpter Tresa Kowats Ueli Stadler Walter Greineder Warren Bechtolt Wendy Donnell Wendy Marshall Wendy Miller Wet Planet Rafting White Eagle 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COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER | Summer 2013 15 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Hood River, Oregon Permit No. 1 111 Third Street Hood River, OR 97031 www.columbiariverkeeper.org RIVER CURRENTS SUMMER 2013 NEWSLETTER PHOTO BY BRETT VANDENHEUVEL
