Progress has stalled on two crude-by-rail oil terminals proposed for Grays Harbor, following a state board’s announcement that certain aspects of the terminals’ proposals must be corrected.
In response to a multi-jurisdictional suit challenging the oil terminals, the Washington State Shorelines Hearings Board on Tuesday said it would grant a summary judgment remanding the terminals’ applications and canceling an upcoming hearing.
A more specific report, identifying what must be corrected in the permits, is forthcoming.
Westway Terminal Company and Imperium Renewables seek to ship tens of millions of barrels of crude oil through Grays Harbor each year.
Westway, specifically, has proposed shipping and receiving 9.6 million barrels of crude each year and installing additional rail spurs to provide a total of 80 rail loading and unloading facilities, according to documents posted on the Port of Grays Harbor’s website.
Nearby communities — including Centralia — could, on a daily basis, see mile-long trains, carrying crude oil from North Dakota or tar sands crude oil from Alberta, Canada.
Once at the port, the oil would be stored in tanks and eventually pumped onto oil tankers and barges.
The challenge was filed by The Quinault Indian Nation and a coalition of five conservation groups: Friends of Grays Harbor, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Grays Harbor Audubon and Citizens for a Clean Harbor.
The Indian Nation and the conservation groups argued that regulatory agencies failed to adequately evaluate the risks of oil spills from trains and ships.
