EFSEC recommendation should recognize, preserve port’s ability to provide economic benefit
By Julianna Marler, Port of Vancouver USA interim CEO
We recently completed the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) adjudicative process for Vancouver Energy. The hearings were held in Vancouver and Olympia, June 27 – July 29.
Adjudication has been a very informative process. During the five weeks, we heard testimony from experts in a variety of fields, including rail safety; facility design; environmental and fish and wildlife; economics; emergency response preparedness; operations; and marine navigation.
The Port of Vancouver is taking all of the testimony we heard during adjudication into consideration as we continue developing the safety and operations plans for Vancouver Energy. Our goal has always been to make this project–if approved through the EFSEC process–as safe and environmentally responsible as possible.
We’ve done a great deal of work to that end already. Over the years, we’ve steadily made improvements to our rail system, including a 10 mph speed limit, continuous-welded track, concrete railroad ties and guardrail on the port lead track coming in from downtown Vancouver.
During adjudication, our expert witnesses and legal team showed time and time again that the Port of Vancouver is a good place to site a project like Vancouver Energy because of our stringent safety and environmental requirements and our commitment to and investment in the safe movement of all cargoes.
That’s what ports do: We move products like lumber, grain and steel safely and efficiently so people and businesses can build houses, feed livestock and manufacture appliances. We’ve also safely moved transportation fuels for years, including diesel and jet fuel, to ensure people and goods get where they are needed.
The movement of these cargoes creates thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic benefit; a 2015 study showed that our activities support over 20,000 jobs and generate $2.9 billion in regional economic value each year.
Our request to EFSEC in our closing statement July 29 was to recognize the value the Port of Vancouver brings its community. We asked the Council to make a recommendation that supports our ability to continue providing economic benefit–a recommendation that allows us and the other 74 Washington state ports to attract business and industry so we can continue creating jobs and supporting our communities.
Based on feedback from EFSEC, we expect the Council to provide its recommendation to Gov. Inslee this fall. The governor then has 60 days to consider the recommendation and issue a decision.