Jeanne —
Even as the threat of the disastrous Trans Mountain Pipeline looms over the Pacific Northwest, tar sands crude oil is already moving through our region—by barge through Puget Sound, by pipeline through Whatcom and Skagit counties, and by train through Eastern Washington and along the Columbia River Gorge and the Salish Sea.
In addition to being one of the most climate-polluting fossil fuels on the planet, tar sands crude sinks when spilled into water — and is virtually impossible to clean up, causing irreparable damage to shoreline communities and vulnerable aquatic ecosystems.
Tell Ecology: Washington needs stronger protections from tar sands crude oil now.
The Department of Ecology is updating the rules that require companies moving oil to have detailed spill response plans that address the specific threats of tar sands oil. Unfortunately, the updated plan are inadequate and leaves us at risk of a catastrophic oil spill. Ecology must act now to increase protections for non-floating oils, like tar sands oils, with more stringent response time and equipment requirements for a fast, aggressive, and well-coordinated response to contain and recovery tar sands oils before they submerge and sink.
Last week, activists from across the state attended hearings in Everett, Vancouver, and Spokane to call on Ecology to strengthen our protections against a tar sands oil spill. Now, they need to hear from you.
Comment NOW to tell Ecology they must establish the strongest possible protections from oil spills.
Oil spills threaten coastal jobs, livelihoods, and wildlife, including the endangered Southern Resident orcas. With so many current and proposed fossil fuel projects in our region, Ecology must establish the strongest possible protection from oil spills.
The risks are too great and we deserve better.
For people and for orcas,
350 Seattle
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350 Seattle
1127 10th Ave. East #1
Seattle, WA 98102
United States