On Tuesday, Washington state’s Energy Site Evaluation Council voted unanimously to recommend to Gov. Jay Inslee that he deny the permit application of the Vancouver Energy Oil Transfer Facility. It’s a development that pleased the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, which has voiced its opposition to the proposed facility.
“The Washington State’s Energy Site Evaluation Council has recommended to Governor Inslee that the Vancouver Energy proposal be denied,” wrote Cowlitz Indian Tribe representative Amy Boyd in an email to The Chronicle. “The Cowlitz Indian Tribe thanks the Council for this thoughtful recommendation. Vancouver Energy would have operated for 20 years, but could have impacted the lower Columbia River ecosystems and communities for decades.”
A press release issued by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Chairman William Iyall noted that the vote took place after council member Greg Shafer, of Clark County, made a motion recommending disapproval. Shafer argued that the Vancouver Energy had failed to meet the burden of proof to demonstrate that the Port of Vancouver was an appropriate site.
The press release added that the meeting lasted less than ten minutes, and noted that the council as a whole found the project was not in the best interest of the general public.
“We presented our concerns about air quality, water quality, and environmental quality,” noted the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. “We now ask Governor Inslee to accept the Council’s recommendation.”
The meeting is archived on TVW and can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/2AhN5kB.
