Gorge oil train fire: Governor invokes Conflagration Act

Here’s a roundup of full statements by Gov. Kate Brown, Sen. Ron Wyden and several conservation groups about the Columbia River Gorge oil train derailment and fire, along with word of a protest rally and march planned Saturday.

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Gov. Kate Brown news release:

(Salem, OR) — At 9:32 p.m. Friday Governor Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the Mosier train derailment. Governor Brown’s action will activate additional water tender resources in the effort to contain the train fire.

“I am committed to making the necessary resources available to help keep the community of Mosier safe,” said Governor Brown. “Additional water tenders and the coordination efforts of the Oregon State Fire Marshal are crucial elements to assist the firefighters on the ground.”

In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Brown determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exists due to the fire and that the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.

The Governor’s declaration authorizes the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to mobilize resources to assist local resources battling the fire.

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Announcement from Friends of the Columbia Gorge, the Columbia Gorge Climate Action Network and Columbia Riverkeeper:

Community Will Gather in Hood River, Call for End to Dangerous Oil Trains

(Hood River, OR) – Members of the Columbia Gorge Community will gathertomorrowat 12:00 noon onSaturday, June 4, 2016, at Overlook Memorial Park at 2nd and State Street, Hood River, Oregon to respond to the Union Pacific oil train derailment in Mosier, Oregon that occurred on Friday.

City government officials, tribal representatives, faith leaders, environmental groups, first responders (if available) and others will address the gathering.

The event will be followed by a march through downtown Hood River to the Hood River Waterfront Park, 400 N. Portway Ave., Hood River, OR.

Community members that wish to express themselves by painting signs are encouraged to convene at 10:30 AM at the Friends of the Columbia Gorge Office (205 Oak Street #17, Hood River).

The use of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as a fossil fuel export corridor is simply unacceptable for our communities. It’s unacceptable for any community – and if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere. We call on Oregon and Washington to do everything in their power to stop the use of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as a fossil fuel export corridor.

This is a tragic moment that has lived in the minds of many community members for a number of years. The escalation of oil trains in the Gorge and throughout the Pacific Northwest has been opposed by many city governments, faith communities, tribal councils and community organizations precisely for the reasons we are experiencingtodayas a result of the Mosier derailment. Health and air quality, water contamination risks, fire risks and community safety are all being jeopardized.

As we enter the hot summer seasontomorrow, we are also reminded of the reality of global warming and the role that fossil fuels play in endangering the future of all who live and breathe on the planet.

We will ask President Obama and our federal elected leaders to support a ban on high risk oil train shipments through the Columbia Gorge and other U.S. communities. And we will call on Governor Brown, Governor Inslee, and federal leaders to deny proposed oil train terminals in the Pacific Northwest, proposals that would dramatically increase dangerous oil trains through our region.

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Earlier Gov. Kate Brown statement regarding today’s train derailment in Mosier:

“I am grateful to local first responders, HazMat teams, and other state agencies for doing their best to keep the community of Mosier safe. I am closely monitoring the situation and ready to make every state resource available as needed. I ask that travelers seek alternate routes away from this area until further notice. The Oregon Department of Transportation will provide continuous updates on travel conditions.”

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Sen. Ron Wyden news release:

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after a train carrying crude oil derailed near Mosier, Oregon today:

“It’s clear with this crash – as it has been for years – that more must be done to protect our communities from trains carrying explosive hazardous fuels,” Wyden said. “That’s why I’ve repeatedly called for more resources and notification for first responders, and why I’m continuing to push for my bill to move unsafe cars off the tracks and away from communities.”

Last year, Wyden introduced the Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety Improvement Act, which would provide tax incentives for upgrading to safer cars than 1232 oil tank cars. Those are the type of cars have been reported to be involved in today’s accident.

He also raised concerns about the safety of 1232 tank cars in a letter to the White House budget office last year.

Wydenhas called for increased notification of railroad shipments of oil and other hazardous materials to give first responders much-needed information to allow them to respond to potential accidents.

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Friends of the Columbia Gorge news release:

As Mosier oil train derailment unfolds, Union Pacific works to expand oil-by-rail in the Columbia Gorge

This morning, an oil-train derailment occurred in the town of Mosier in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, a derailment that continues to threaten the community as two or more tanker cars are ablaze and could be on fire for days.

“Our thoughts go out to the town of Mosier for this catastrophe, but this is not an accident,” said Michael Lang, Conservation Director of Friends of the Columbia Gorge. “This is the expected outcome of Union Pacific intentionally bringing more and more oil trains through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. “

Friends of the Columbia Gorge first alerted the media in April 2014 that Union Pacific was shipping oil through the Gorge one week after Union Pacific officials denied that any oil trains were moving along their tracks. Since that time, the community of Mosier has been one of the most vocal in opposing oil-by-rail transport. Mosier Mayor Arlene Burns spoke out how the concerns that have been raised to Union Pacific are now playing out in her community. “That’s what we’ve been saying all along,” said Burns. “These trains are dangerous and we have no way to protect ourselves. This could annihilate the whole town.”

Rather than limiting danger, Union Pacific is pushing to expand oil-by-rail transport in the Gorge. Union Pacific is proposing construction of four miles of mainline track through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area around Mosier. This would allow more, long oil trains traveling at higher speeds to pass through the Gorge, impacting recreation sites, wetlands, Native American cultural resources, and communities like Mosier. The proposed new track would pass through some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the Columbia Gorge. It would also facilitate long, heavy trains traveling at high speeds carrying crude oil bound for terminals proposed throughout the Northwest. This includes the Tesoro Savage oil terminal proposal in Vancouver, potentially the largest oil-by-rail terminal in North America.

Union Pacific has submitted the application for the new track to the Wasco County Planning Commission, but claim it is a voluntary courtesy and that federal law preempts any local authority from stopping them. This ignores the fact that the National Scenic Area Act is also federal law. A hearing scheduled for June 7 has been delayed until July 5 due to the concerns raised by citizens, communities and tribes.

“Derailments like what we just saw in Mosier confirms what Gorge communities have said all along: that oil-by-rail is unsafe, said Peter Cornelison, Friends of the Columbia Gorge field representative and Hood River resident. “The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and our communities are no place to transport dangerous oil by rail. This is Exhibit A for why the Tesoro oil-by-rail terminal must be denied. As the largest oil terminal in North America, it would result in a massive increase in oil transport, further endangering our communities.”

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Sierra Club news release:

Mosier, OR — Today, a train carrying oil derailed and promptly caught fire in the Columbia River Gorge, near Mosier, Oregon.

In response, Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:

“The Sierra Club’s thoughts and prayers are with the train’s crew, their families, and the families of the communities affected by this disaster.

“History has repeatedly shown just how deadly and dangerous oil train crashes can be. Simply put, transporting oil by rail — or by any method — is a disaster waiting to happen. The safety and well-being of our communities must be put ahead of profits for Big Oil.”