On February 27th, 2018, the Port of Vancouver, WA and Tesoro agreed to early termination of Tesoro’s lease of port space. This marked the end of efforts to build and operate what would have been the largest oil train terminal in the country. We’re immensely grateful to all who worked towards this goal, including our many members who spoke out against this project, members of Oregon PSR’s Healthy Climate Action Team, and our partners in the Stand Up to Oil (SUTO) coalition. Opposition to this project fueled a five-year campaign powered by a fierce determination to protect our families, our communities, and our climate.
The project, a joint venture by Tesoro Corporation and Savage Companies, was first proposed in 2013. It would have moved up to 15 million gallons of extremely volatile Bakken crude oil daily to Vancouver, directly threatening communities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. From there crude oil would be shipped to West Coast refineries and/or Asian markets, further contributing to the public health disaster of climate change.
Celebrating Victory Over Big Oil (4/4/18)
EFSEC Issues Final Report Unanimously Rejecting Oil Terminal (12/20/17)
Washington State Energy Council Recommends Denial of Tesoro Savage Vancouver Oil Terminal (11/28/17)
Excerpts from Holcombe Waller's "Notes From the Riverkeepers" A Musical Homily on Oil Trains (September/October 2017)
Mosier Project Denied Again to Protect Tribal Rights (6/13/17)
Vancouver City Council Votes Unanimously to Prohibit Future Oil Projects (7/19/16)
View the Vancouver City Council Resolution (and Supporting Documents) Prohibiting Future Oil Projects (7/18/16)
Portland City, County Leaders Call On Governor to Help Stop Oil Trains (6/14/16 article)
Multnomah County Resolution Opposing Oil-by-Rail and Tesoro Savage Project (adopted 1/21/16)
Multnomah County Passes Unanimous Historic Resolution Opposing Oil Trains and Tesoro Savage Project (1/21/16 press release)
Portland City Council Passes Resolution Opposing New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure (11/11/15 press release)
Portland City Council Resolution Opposing New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Portland City Council Passes Resolution Opposing Oil Trains (11/4/15)
Experts Flag Major Risks of Crude-by-Rail, Criticize Official Study of Impacts (Tesoro Savage)
Briefing: Oil-by-Rail Cargo Movement in Multnomah County
Health Professional Sign-on Letter on Oil Transport and Storage