Listen in to KBOO radio's Locus Focus, hosted by Barbara Bernstein to hear Oregon PSR's Healthy Climate Program Director Samantha Hernandez and 350 PDX's Dineen Crowe discuss Zenith's history and impact in Portland, and what you can do to make sure Zenith is not allowed to continue putting our communities and our planet at risk.
For seven years Portlanders have been trying to stop Zenith Energy's oil trains from threatening the health and safety of our community. After nearly three years of community protests and public meetings, the City of Portland denied Zenith’s application for a Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS), because the potential adverse impacts of Zenith’s oil-by-rail facility are not compatible with the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Without a LUCS, Zenith’s application to the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a renewed Title V air pollution permit could not be granted. Zenith appealed the LUCS denial to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and then the Oregon Court of Appeals and lost both times. But days before the Oregon Supreme Court chose not to hear the appeal, the City of Portland quietly approved a third LUCs for Zenith Energy, approving five more years of dangerous oil operations in exchange for a promise to switch to “renewable” fuels in five years.
Last fall DEQ scheduled a hearing and comment period for Zenith's air pollution permit, but as a result of information received from the public in an information session hosted by DEQ, they paused the public comment period to investigate Zenith. Yet in the meantime the city administrator granted Zenith a new LUCS.
Now Oregon DEQ has opened a public comment period as they consider granting the Air Contaminant Discharge Permit to Zenith. Today we talk with Dineen Crowe with 350PDX and Samantha Hernandez with Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility about what you can do to make sure Zenith is not allowed to continue putting our communities and our planet at risk.
Links and details about DEQ hearings on Zenith's air pollution permit application:
First Public Hearing
MONDAY, MAY 12TH, 6:45 - 9:00 P.M. ***rally begins at 6:00 p.m. and there will be pizza 🍕
In person attendees will be invited to provide comments first with online and phone attendees following, time permitting.
Attend in person: Buckley Center Auditorium, University of Portland, 5000 N Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203
Link to register to join online via Zoom
Join via phone by calling 253-215-8782 and entering Webinar ID: 863 5360 2272, Passcode: 746447
Second Public Hearing
THURSDAY, MAY 15TH, 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Link to register to join online via Zoom
Join via phone by calling 253-215-8782 and entering Webinar ID: 839 0464 8181, Passcode: 682831
Submit Public Comments
By mail: NWR Air Quality Permit Coordinator, Oregon DEQ, 700 NE Multnomah St, Suite 600, Portland, OR 97232
By web: DEQ Online Public Notice
By email: [email protected]