Oil trains are already traveling through our community and will continue to do so, regardless of whether or not Tesoro-Savage’s proposed oil terminal is approved. What’s in question is whether or not any of those trains stop at the Port of Vancouver.
Currently, about 75 trains move through our community daily. Of those, an average of 1.5 unit trains enters the port. The rest are traveling north, south and east on BNSF and Union Pacific mainlines. They’re carrying a variety of cargoes, including those considered hazardous such as gasoline, diesel, crude oil and various chemicals. As common carriers, railroads are required under federal law to transport these products.
Right now, much discussion is focused on whether or not oil trains and Vancouver’s waterfront redevelopment can coexist. I believe they have to. The increased transport of U.S. crude is in response to changing markets. The Midwest is experiencing an economic boom, and the U.S. is expected to produce more oil than Saudi Arabia by 2015. Transporting domestic oil to West Coast refineries means more jobs and increased profits for U.S. companies and reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil — strong incentives to both the private and public sectors.
Those market factors are impacting our community. Either we understand them and create benefit, or we simply sit on the sidelines and watch the trains go by.