Olympian editorial: Port has valid concerns about oil trains

 Rail shipments of crude oil from North Dakota in black tank cars are adding to the volume of rail traffic on Washington's rail network sit at the train yard on Thursday, June 20, 2013. Lui Kit Wong/Staff photographer

Today the Olympian newspaper published an editorial supporting the Port of Olympia's right to be concerned about crude-by-rail:

Port has valid concerns about oil trains

The Olympian  editorial October 23, 2014


The Washington Public Ports Association publicly spanked the Olympia Port Commission for urging the Port of Grays Harbor to reconsider its plan to build three new oil-by-rail terminals in Hoquiam.

The WPPA apparently objects to one port raising concerns about another port’s business.

But the Port of Olympia has a right to be concerned. In fact, all South Sound residents should worry about the environmental and economic impacts of building terminals that could bring dangerous oil tanker trains moving 175,000 barrels of highly flammable Bakken crude oil per day through Thurston County.

There are many valid reasons for Thurston County jurisdictions and residents to be concerned about increased train traffic carrying hazardous cargoes.... read more here

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Tuesday the Daily World wrote its own article with a much less positive tone:

Censured Port of Olympia commissioners bite back

Fallout continues to spread from a resolution passed by the Port of Olympia criticizing the Port of Grays Harbor and the City of Hoquiam over three proposed oil terminals.

Port Association Fails to Silence Port of Olympia

Hi Folks,                                                                                                     10/15/14

The Washington Public Ports Association's attempt to silence the Port of Olympia has failed.  The Port Association's Executive Committee should resign in disgrace for its effort to silence debate on this important public policy issue.

The Port of Olympia passed resolution #2014-07 in August, 2014 calling upon the Port of Grays Harbor to reconsider its proposal to build three marine terminals for Bakken shale oil and requesting the City of Hoquiam to deny construction permits for all three of the proposed terminals.

In response, the Executive Committee of the Washington Public Ports Association, a trade association with no statutory authority to do so, sent letters to the homes of two Olympia port commissioners, George Barner and Sue Gunn, saying they were "writing to censure you for your support and passage of this resolution."

I've attached the Port of Olympia's October 14th response to the Association.

The Executive Committee of the Washington Public Ports Association is:

Tom Albro, President (Port of Seattle)

Roy Keck, Vice President (Port of Benton)
Jerry Oliver, Past President (Port of Vancouver)
JC Baldwin, Past Present (Port of Chelan)

Troy McClellan, Secretary (Port of Everett)

Sincerely,
Dan Leahy
1415 6th Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98502

NEWS FROM QUINAULT: Concurring With Port of Olympia Resolution

For Immediate Release

QIN Concurs with Port of Olympia Resolution

            TAHOLAH, WA, (8/27/14)--The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) commends the  Commission of the Port of Olympia for the wisdom and foresight reflected in the Bakken Oil Resolution it passed Monday night, said QIN Councilman Larry Ralston.

            The Port of Olympia has joined with a growing number of communities that are expressing serious concerns about the risks to the economy of Washington State as the oil companies push to use our rail lines and port facilities for moving this volatile and dangerous oil in train cars and Panamex oil tankers.

            The Quinault Nation is studying the potential impacts to the treaty fisheries. However, all fishermen in the Grays Harbor area are highly concerned with the risks posed by these proposed additional crude oil terminals, mile-long oil trains and huge oil tankers that will be added to the traffic along our rail lines and in our waters.

            Recent research shows that in the Northwest, on average, one freight train derailment occurs every three-and-a-half days. The communities in Washington State have a right to know more about the risks of the vast increases in the transportation of this volatile oil before any final decisions are made to allow the oil companies this access to our lands and waterways. We also stand together with the communities that will take on the risks caused by the passage of the unsafe rail cars through the center of their towns, placing schools and other populated areas within the blast zones of these explosive trains.

            We ask people from all walks of life to stand with us.

            The Northwest is still a beautiful place to live and raise our children. Let’s keep it that way.

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CONTACT:     Steve Robinson   (360) 951-2494 Water4fish@comcast.net