PUBLIC COMMENTING WORKED!
We’ve just gotten big, good news. DEQ announced that they are pausing the comment period and canceling the currently scheduled public hearings for the Zenith air quality permit after they conducted a surprise inspection of Zenith’s facilities yesterday (11/14). Their investigation has prompted them to take our concerns about Zenith more seriously, and they have said that their inspection was a direct result of questions and concerns raised by the public during this process so far – that’s a major testament to all the work people are doing as part of this comment period.
We don’t know exactly how things will unfold from here, but we’re cautiously optimistic. We do know that this Tuesday’s (11/19) rally and hearing and December 6th’s hearing are canceled though. Here’s an OPB article explaining the situation in a little more detail: https://www.opb.org/article/2024/11/14/portland-oregon-zenith-energy-oil-terminal-environment-inpection-permit/
CANCELLED -> SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT TELLING DEQ TO STOP ZENITH NOW
The public comment period for Zenith Energy’s new air quality permit close December 16th
Throughout our city, thousands of Portlanders live within a mile of dangerous trains carrying highly pressurized fuels right by our homes and impacting our health, safety, and environment. The one mile area surrounding the railroad tracks has been designated a federal evacuation “blast zone” in the event of a derailment or explosion, an unfortunately common occurrence with rail traffic.
A Houston-based company called Zenith Energy is primarily responsible for these trains. Zenith operates out of the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub to import fossil fuels into our community before exporting most, if not all, of their dangerous product to foreign markets.
After Portland City Council struck a backroom deal with Zenith, betraying the many community members who have voiced fierce, consistent opposition to Zenith, the company is now applying for an air permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This new permit would allow them to not only continue operating, but to actually expand their operations under the guise of transitioning to so-called “renewable” fuels. If the permit is denied, Zenith won’t be able to expand its facility and will not be legally allowed to operate in the City.
We can make our voices heard by submitting comments to the DEQ from now until December 16th at 5 p.m. or by testifying at two hearings: the first on November 19th at the University of Portland and the second online on December 4th . We are calling on the DEQ to protect the health and safety of our communities and our environment by rejecting Zenith’s permit. For more information on the campaign to stop Zenith, help writing a public comment or testimony and to learn how to get involved, head to 350PDX.org/stopzenith.