Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah to all.
Thursday will be the first time since 1888 that the two holidays have coincided with the first day of Hanukkah on the same day as Thanksgiving. Wishing you all very good days all week, and beyond.
November 21 Meeting Summary:
Several people in PPC Skagit have been asking for more information regarding the transport of oil by train since these trains come through on the way to the March Point refinery and oil train accidents in Canada and Alabama have been in the news.
In response, the recent meeting was loaded with information on pending increases in oil trains throughout Washington, as well as the need to remain vigilant on the coal export proposals.
Thank you, Terry Weschler, for sharing your in-depth understanding of all these complex issues. Terry is the co-founder of Protect Whatcom. Take a look at the Infographic and the Table of oil terminal proposals that can be found on this excellent website:
http://protectwhatcom.org/fossil-fuel-transport/
One thing we can do before December 5........
TAKE ACTION:
1) Washington State Dept. of Transportation State Rail Plan
Post comments on or before December 5: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/Input.htm
Comment for stronger safety rules specifically for the transport of oil and other flammable liquids by trains. Click on the internet address and in your own words explain that you support tougher safety rules for the transport of oil by rail.
For more information: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059990536
Thank you all and have a very good holiday season. See you in the new year! (No December meeting.)
~Carolyn Gastellum
Thursday will be the first time since 1888 that the two holidays have coincided with the first day of Hanukkah on the same day as Thanksgiving. Wishing you all very good days all week, and beyond.
November 21 Meeting Summary:
Several people in PPC Skagit have been asking for more information regarding the transport of oil by train since these trains come through on the way to the March Point refinery and oil train accidents in Canada and Alabama have been in the news.
In response, the recent meeting was loaded with information on pending increases in oil trains throughout Washington, as well as the need to remain vigilant on the coal export proposals.
Thank you, Terry Weschler, for sharing your in-depth understanding of all these complex issues. Terry is the co-founder of Protect Whatcom. Take a look at the Infographic and the Table of oil terminal proposals that can be found on this excellent website:
http://protectwhatcom.org/fossil-fuel-transport/
One thing we can do before December 5........
TAKE ACTION:
1) Washington State Dept. of Transportation State Rail Plan
Post comments on or before December 5: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/Input.htm
Comment for stronger safety rules specifically for the transport of oil and other flammable liquids by trains. Click on the internet address and in your own words explain that you support tougher safety rules for the transport of oil by rail.
For more information: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059990536
Thank you all and have a very good holiday season. See you in the new year! (No December meeting.)
~Carolyn Gastellum
P.S. Just a quick note on the action item: While the state is accepting comments on its draft state rail plan and Terry Wechsler touched on supporting that at our meeting, the state rail plan does not contain oil tanker car safety rules, So, if you only want to comment on the need for oil tanker car safety rules in light of the recent terrible explosions of oil tanker cars in Quebec and Alabama that were carrying the same type of Bakken crude oil that is being transported through Skagit County to refineries here and Cherry Point, there is the agency website for comments:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=PHMSA-2012-0082-0073
That is a federal agency called the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and they are accepting comments until Dec. 5th. You can use the comment button on this website to make a comment.
For brief comments supporting strong rules 1.) tell them who you are and why you care and 2.) ask for strict rules. After the meeting, some of you asked for an example of a comment. There are some posted on the agency website itself and here is what I am working on as another example:
I am writing in support of strong updated rules to improve the safety of rail tanker cars transporting crude oil products. I live in Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Washington. Several cities in our county, including Mount Vernon, have a busy, vintage single track rail line that bisects downtown areas and runs through our residential neighborhoods. This single track rail line also crosses the Skagit River that provides habitat for various salmon species, traverses wetlands, and travels along the shoreline of the Salish Sea that supports our fisheries and tourist industries. A derailment or other accident resulting in an explosion as in Lac-Megantic, Quebec and more recently in rural Alabama would be devastating to our communities and the environment.
It is obvious from reports of the recent explosions that DOT-111 tanker cars and Bakken crude are a dangerous mix. Updated safety regulations for crude oil tanker cars are urgently needed. These regulations must impose stringent standards and include an aggressive schedule for the retirement of all tanker cars that do not meet new strict requirements. Anything less would leave communities and the environment at unacceptable risk. Thank you for your attention to my comment.
~Mary Ruth Holder
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=PHMSA-2012-0082-0073
That is a federal agency called the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and they are accepting comments until Dec. 5th. You can use the comment button on this website to make a comment.
For brief comments supporting strong rules 1.) tell them who you are and why you care and 2.) ask for strict rules. After the meeting, some of you asked for an example of a comment. There are some posted on the agency website itself and here is what I am working on as another example:
I am writing in support of strong updated rules to improve the safety of rail tanker cars transporting crude oil products. I live in Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Washington. Several cities in our county, including Mount Vernon, have a busy, vintage single track rail line that bisects downtown areas and runs through our residential neighborhoods. This single track rail line also crosses the Skagit River that provides habitat for various salmon species, traverses wetlands, and travels along the shoreline of the Salish Sea that supports our fisheries and tourist industries. A derailment or other accident resulting in an explosion as in Lac-Megantic, Quebec and more recently in rural Alabama would be devastating to our communities and the environment.
It is obvious from reports of the recent explosions that DOT-111 tanker cars and Bakken crude are a dangerous mix. Updated safety regulations for crude oil tanker cars are urgently needed. These regulations must impose stringent standards and include an aggressive schedule for the retirement of all tanker cars that do not meet new strict requirements. Anything less would leave communities and the environment at unacceptable risk. Thank you for your attention to my comment.
~Mary Ruth Holder
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