To: WA Dept of Ecology & City of Hoquiam

Don't allow Grays Harbor to be Big Oil's sacrifice zone!

The Westway and Imperium oil terminal proposals present too much risk without reward.

A single major oil spill could devastate the area’s maritime economy, productive fisheries, tribal cultures and economies, and spectacular coastal waters. Given the alarming safety record of oil trains in recent months, an explosive oil train derailment is a very real possibility.

There are better way to meet our energy needs. Washington State is already moving away from fossil fuels and towards clean, renewable sources to meet our energy needs. Building more fossil fuel infrastructure will only chain us to the energy past, and at a terrible risk to these communities.

I support protection of Grays Harbor and its people and urge you to reject the proposed Westway and Imperium oil terminals.

Why is this important?

Oil companies are trying to expand their Northwest operations, putting our communities at risk from explosive oil train derailments, huge increases in rail traffic, and oil spills from trains, tankers, and barges. And with each additional project, they add to climate disruption.

Dangerous types of oil – volatile Bakken crude from the Midwest and toxic tar sands oil from Canada – pose unique dangers to public health and the environment. Unchecked, the oil industry will turn our region into a thoroughfare for crude oil with terminal proposals that impact the Northwest, the country and the world. We remember the disaster in Lac Megantic Canada —a derailment and explosion that killed 47 people. We also remember the Exxon Valdez, the BP Horizon, and the ominous warning of the 1989 Nestucca oil barge spill off Grays Harbor that fouled beaches from Oregon to Vancouver Island, and killed 56,000 sea birds.

But we have an opportunity to say no to the oil industry’s proposed expansion through our region: A public comment period is now underway to evaluate the risks of two of the terminals in Grays Harbor, Washington – the Westway and Imperium terminal proposals. Our job is to let the Department of Ecology and the City of Hoquiam know that the risks outweigh the benefits of these projects.