ABERDEEN — The city of Aberdeen is likely to complete adoption of an ordinance later this month that prohibits bulk crude oil storage and handling facilities.
City council members last week approved first reading of a zoning ordinance spelling out this addition to the city code. Council members were unanimous in their approval of the ordinance and, “There has been overwhelming public comment in favor of prohibition,” said Eric Nelson, city attorney.
Second reading of the ordinance is slated to occur when the council meets again July 13 — the same day of the public hearing regarding the matter.
The existing moratorium on such projects is quickly reaching its expiration date. It’s possible the council would opt to waive the third and final reading of this proposed ordinance because of earlier and substantial comment by residents about the topic, Nelson said.
He also explained that the council went further with their action than what had been recommended by the Planning Commission, which was to make it a conditional use.
“The impression is that it will be passed,” he added.
Several residents attended the meeting and all were in agreement with the council’s decision. Most held signs that read “Stand Up To Oil.” Some spoke in support of the Aberdeen ordinance.
Tammy Domike of Citizens for a Clean Harbor was among those at that meeting supporting prohibition.
“I’m happy the Aberdeen City Council voted this way,” she said. “In conjunction with the Hoquiam ban last year, it should stop future projects like the Westway (Group) proposal from happening in the county.”
Domike expressed her concern to the Hoquiam City Council about plans by Westway to build and operate an oil terminal in Grays Harbor County and presented them with a report made by the Sightline Institute, a nonprofit think tank that conducts research and guidance to foster sustainable practices across the Northwest. Sightline asserted that Westway has a “checkered safety record,” “troubled finances” and interest in “short-circuiting the review process.”
The company applied for permits in early 2013 to construct storage tanks that would enable much larger volumes of crude — more than 55 million gallons — to be transported from trains to tankers. Four or five trains a week would deliver crude to be stored, then transferred onto nearly 120 barges and tankers that would sail in and out of Grays Harbor each year, Sightline also wrote in its May report.
