This week is off to a good start.

Lac-Mégantic, le 27 juin 2014

À/aux: La nation Quinault et associations de l'état de Washington (É-U) : d'Anacortes, de Seattle, de Grays Harbor, d'Olympia, de Centralia/Chehalis, de Vancouver et de Spokane, et autres, qui supportent les actions du 6 juillet 2014, ayant comme objectif d'exprimer leur solidarité avec les sinistrés de Lac-Mégantic, et aussi d'affirmer leur volonté qu'un tel drame ne se reproduise plus.
Les gens de Lac-Mégantic et des environs sont conscients des dangers que représente le transport sur rail du pétrole brut du Dakota du nord ou de l'Alberta. La tragédie que nous avons subie, et dont nous peinons à nous relever a été médiatisée à l'échelle planétaire.

Nous appuyons avec empressement et conviction les actions de solidarité qui seront prises dans plusieurs états et provinces de l'Amérique du Nord pour souligner la commémoration de la terrible tragédie qui est survenue le 6 juillet 2013,  à Lac-Mégantic (Québec), suite au déraillement du train 606 282 de la MMA.

Nous espérons que les communautés qui organisent la résistance ainsi que les conseils municipaux de Vancouver, de Spokane, de Seattle, d'Edmonds, de Bellingham et des autres villes concernées, soient entendues et que leurs craintes soient prises en considération.

 Il est donc indispensable qu'un moratoire soit imposé sur  le transport ferroviaire du pétrole brut, et que par conséquent, la santé, le bien-être et la sécurité de la population,  ainsi que la qualité de l'environnement soient effectivement assurés.



_____________________________        _____________________________

Jacques Gagnon                                                 André Blais
Comité citoyen de la région du lac Mégantic

Jacques Gagnon                                                 André Blais
Comité citoyen de la région du lac Mégantic



"To the Quinault Nation, to the organizations in Washington State and to the communities in Anacortes, Seattle, Grays Harbor, Chehalis, Centralia, Vancouver, Spokane and other communities who are creating actions on July 6th with the objective of expressing solidarity with the people of Lac Megantic and also affirming their desire that this type of disaster will never happen again:

"The people of Lac Megantic and its environs are well aware of the dangers of transporting North Dakota crude by rail. The tragedy that we have suffered is very well known.

"We strongly support the solidarity actions that will take place in many states in the United States and in Canadian provinces that will highlight the commemoration of the terrible tragedy that took place in Lac Megantic following the derailment of the MMA train 606 282.

"We hope that the communities that organize the resistance and the municipal councils of Vancouver, Spokane, Edmonds, Bellingham and other concerned cities will be understood and their fears be taken into consideration so that a moratorium will be imposed on such practices so that the health, well-being and security of the population and environment will be protected."
Traduction by: Dan Leahy

Pipeline proponents consider explosives in ocean to scare whales from potential oil slicks

via The Globe & Mail

The proponents of two controversial pipelines to British Columbia’s coast say they would consider deploying underwater firecrackers, helicopters and clanging pipes, among other methods, to ensure whales don’t swim toward any disastrous oil spill that might result from increased tanker traffic carrying bitumen to Asia.

Police arrest anti-oil protester in Northwest Portland

via OregonLive

Police arrested a 22-year-old Portland woman on Monday who was attached to a barrel of concrete in a protest against oil trains and the burning of fossil fuels.Police were dispatched about 6 a.m. to remove Irene Marjorie and the 55-gallon barrel off the tracks at the ArcLogistics terminal in industrial Northwest Portland. About a dozen protestors gathered next to the train tracks to show their support of Marjorie and express their opposition to oil.The protest was staged by a group called Portland Rising Tide. One of its members, Scott Schroder, said the action was part of an effort to "shift the narrative about oil trains away from the fact that they occasionally explode in derailment to the fact that when oil is burned, it causes far greater harm to communities."

We brought cardboard boxes to the Parade. Aberdeen brought this:

Washington Department of Ecology – NEWS

via DOE

June 27, 2014

 

Contacts:

Lisa Copeland, communications, 360-407-6990, @EcySW

Scott Ferguson, project manager, 360-407-7465

 

Consultant selected for oil transportation study

State awards contract to address environmental concerns

 

OLYMPIA – Work continues on a study to analyze the impacts of marine and rail oil transportation in Washington state with a contract signed between the Department of Ecology and Environmental Research Consulting (ERC) of New York.

 

Ecology was tasked with conducting the study in the 2014 Legislative session through a budget proviso and is working in consultation with the Department of Transportation, Utilities and Transportation Commission, Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, the Federal Railroad Administration, and tribal governments.

 

ERC has been awarded a $250,000 contract to work closely with Ecology’s technical team and diverse statewide stakeholders to produce a complete report that looks at the current and anticipated transportation and safety pictures for marine and rail. The report will also identify any gaps in the oil spill prevention, preparedness and response system.

 

“We received a number of bids from excellent organizations,” said Scott Ferguson, project manager for Ecology. “ERC was selected for their years of experience providing environmental and oil spill analysis, reputation as a leader in the environmental field, and their in-depth knowledge of the issues we need to delve into to produce an informative, thorough study.”

 

The oil transportation study and report from ERC will:

·       Inform recommendations for public health, safety and environmental concerns.

·       Contain a statement of safety benefits vs. the cost of implementation.

·       Offer recommendations for funding programs.

·        Provide a risk communication strategy.

 

Gov. Inslee has issued a directive requesting initial findings and recommendations from the study by Oct. 1. The final report is due March 1, 2015.

 

“It’s our job to provide the best information possible to inform the governor and the Legislature,” said Ferguson. “To do that we’ll need everyone’s input and will be seeking community and citizen input each step of the way.”

 

More information about oil transportation in our state is available on Ecology’s website. People can also sign up to receive the Oil Movement newsletter for periodic updates.