Clatskanie, Oregon. - Columbia Riverkeeper€¦ · suggests that Global plans to begin transloading...

July31,2019

OregonDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualityNorthwestRegionAQPermitCoordinator700NEMultnomahSt.Ste600Portland,OR97232Submittedviaemailto:NWRAQPermits@deq.state.or.us

RE:CommentonStandardAirContaminantDischargePermitforGlobalPartners’ColumbiaPacificBio-RefineryNearClatskanie,Oregon

DearNWRegionAirPermitCoordinator,

PleaseacceptthesecommentsfromCenterforSustainableEconomy,Columbia

Riverkeeper,EnvisionColumbiaCounty,FriendsoftheColumbiaGorge,NeighborsforCleanAir,andNorthwestEnvironmentalDefenseCenter.Onbehalfofourtensofthousandsofmembersandsupporters,weurgeOregonDEQtodenytheStandardAirContaminantDischargePermit(ACDP)forGlobalPartners’ColumbiaPacificBio-RefineryatPortWestwardnearClatskanie,Oregon. Attheveryleast,DEQshouldrequireGlobalPartners tosubmitanew1 2

1ColumbiaPacificBio-Refinery.May31,2019lettertoDEQtransmittingAirContaminantDischargePermit(ACDP)RenewalApplication,CascadeKellyHoldings,LLCdbaColumbiaPacificBio-Refinery(ACDP#05-0006-ST-01)2ThefacilitynameisColumbiaPacificBio-Refinery.ThefacilityisownedandoperatedbyCascade-KellyHoldingsLLC,awholly-ownedsubsidiaryofGlobalPartners.Forsimplicity,wewillusethenameGlobalPartnersor“Global”.

permitapplicationthatclearlydistinguishesGlobal’sethanolmanufacturingoperationfromitspotentialcrudeoilstorageandtransloadingoperation.Globalhasatrackrecordofobtainingapermitforoneusethenmodifyingit,withoutpublicinputorcomment,foranotheruse.Ascurrentlywritten,ourorganizationsareconcernedthattheoverlapbetweenthedraftpermitforGlobal’sethanoloperationandthedraftpermitforitsoilstorageandtransloadingoperationwillfacilitateanotherbait-and-switch.GlobalisalreadyonthecuspofbeingcategorizedasamajorsourceundertheCleanAirAct;DEQmustnotpermitGlobaltoavoidthatcategorization,andthemoreprotectivestandardsthatgoalongwithit,byhidingsomeofitsoilstorageandtransloadingactivitiesundertheguiseofanethanoloperation.

Acloselookatthepermittinghistoryofthefacility,aswellasthesteadyincreaseinoil

movingthroughthefacility,makesclearthatGlobalintendstofocusitsoperationsoncrudeoilstorageandtransloading,notethanolproduction.Infact,GlobalPartners’spokespersonCatieKernsadmitsthattherearenorealplanstorestartethanolproductionatthesite. 3

OurorganizationsarealsoconcernedaboutGlobal’shistoryofpermitviolations.InJune

of2012,GlobalsoughtpermissionfromDEQtotransload50milliongallonsofcrudeunderthepermitforitsethanoloperation.DEQapprovedthepermitmodificationwithnopublicinput.Inlessthanayear,Globalwasviolatingeventhatpermissivemodification,transloadingcrudeoilatalmostsixtimestherateallowedbyDEQ.Despitethisclearviolation,Globalcontestedtheenforcementaction.ThispatternisnotlimitedtoactivityattheColumbiaCountysite;since2005,federalagencieshavefinedGlobalPartnersatleast$877,500forviolatingenvironmentalandrailroadsafetylawsinMassachusetts,Maine,NorthDakota,andOregon. Theseactions4

amounttobadfaithbyGlobal.DEQdescribestheoverlapinthetwodraftpermitsas“operationalflexibility,”butwe

fearthispermittingstrategywillallowGlobaltoultimatelytransloadandstoremorecrudeoilthancurrentlyallowedunderitsoiltransloadingpermit.Thiscouldleadtoemissionsatthesitebeyondwhatiscurrentlycontemplated,aswellasanincreaseindangerousoiltraintrafficthroughOregonandWashingtoncommunities.BecauseofourconcernabouttheoverlapbetweenthetwopermitsGlobalseeks,wewilldiscusssomeaspectsofthetransloadingpermitaswellastheethanolpermitinthesecomments.Unlesssignificantlyamendedandclarified,DEQshoulddenythepermitapplication.IfDEQsignificantlyrevisesthepermit,weurgeDEQtorecirculateanewdraftforpubliccomment.

3Climategroups,GlobalPartnersatoddsoverpermits.PamplinMediaGroup.July2019.https://pamplinmedia.com/scs/83-news/433903-343898-climate-groups-global-partners-at-odds-over-permits4CrudeBailout:HowGlobalPartners'andZenithEnergy’sOilTerminalsSubvertDemocracy,EndangerHumanLifeandHealth,andPollutethePlanet,CenterforSustainableEconomy,July2019.https://sustainable-economy.org/report-reveals-ties-to-trump-obama-in-two-proposed-oregon-crude-oil-export-terminals/

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a.GlobalPartnersIntendstoUsetheSameTanksandEquipmentforOilStorage&TransloadingandEthanolProduction

Global’sactionsoverthepastfewyearsindicateanintenttorestartitsoilstorageand

transloadingoperation.Globalhasnottransloadedoilsince2015,howeverin2017itobtainedpermissionfromDEQtobuy,build,andpotentiallyoperateadditionaltankstostoreandtransloadoil.Additionally,inDecember2018,GlobalsoughtandreceivedaleaseamendmentfromthePortofColumbiaCountytoallowthecompanytostoreandshipheavieroil,broadeningtheallowablerangeofAPIgravitytoincludeoilswithAPIGravity18–44. This5

suggeststhatGlobalplanstobegintransloadingoil,potentiallyheavytarsandsoil,inthenearfuture.

Ascurrentlywritten,thedraftACDPforethanolproductionpermitsthecompanytobuy,build,andoperatetanksforethanolproductionandstoragethatGlobalintendstoalsouseforcrudeoilstorageandtransloading.ThepermitidentifiesmultipletanksthatalsoappearinGlobal’sMay31,2019,ACDPapplicationforitsproposedoiltransloadingoperation.Specifically,Globalcontemplatesusingthefollowingtanksunderbothpermits,forbothcrudeoiltransloadingandforethanolproductionandstorage:6104,6105,6106,6201,6202,6203,and6205.Together,thesetanksrepresentover30milliongallonsofpotentialcrudeoilstorage,enoughtoholdtenunittrainsworthofoilatatime.ThedraftACDPforethanolproductionalsoincludesotherequipmentidentifiedintheoiltransloadingapplication,includingvaporcombustionunitsandpipingtomoveoilandethanolbetweentanks.

DEQ’spublicnoticeforGlobal’sethanolproductionactivitiesstates,“[t]hispermitdoesnotregulateemissionsfromCPBR’soilstorageandtransloadingoperations,whichareregulatedunderaseparateairqualitypermit.” YetGlobal’soilstorageandtransloadingpermitapplication6

clearlyindicatesthatsomeofthissameequipmentcouldbeusedforoilstorageandtransloading.Thisismadeclearinthedraftethanolpermititself,whichstates“[t]heethanolproduction,storage,andshippingoperationisconsideredto[be]acompletelyseparatesourcefromthetransloadingandoilstorageoperationswithregardstoairpermitting.However,theMarineVesselLoadoutequipment,VaporCombustionUnit,VaporRecoveryUnit,andStorageTanksTK6105andTK6106areregulatedbyboththisACDPandACDP05-0023-ST-01.” Inaddition7

5OilTalks:PortApprovesGlobalPartnersLeaseChange.ClatskanieChief.December2018.https://www.thechiefnews.com/news_paid/oil-talks-port-approves-global-partners-lease-change/article_bc6fc328-fe45-11e8-8dc1-378ed097285a.htmlDEQstaffJenniferPurcellandScottSmithwerepresentandtestifiedatthishearing.6ACDP#05-0006-ST-01at1.7ACDP#05-0006-ST-01at3.

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tothesesharedtanksandequipment,Global’stransloadingpermitrenewalapplicationidentifiesseveralmoretankswhoseusecouldbeauthorizedunderbothpermits.Specifically,tanksTK6201,TK6202,TK6203,andTK6205areapprovedforrefurbishmentandoperationunderthedraftethanolpermit. ButinApril2017,DEQapprovedanoticeofintenttoconstructforan8

operatingscenariowhichwouldallowGlobaltooperatethesesametanksunderthefacility’soiltransloadingpermit. Globalhasmadeclearinitsoiltransloadingapplicationthatthis“alternate9

operatingscenario”involvingthePGEtanksistheoneitplanstopursue. 10

DEQshouldnotallowGlobaltocontinueinterminglingitsethanolproductionandoil

transloadingequipment.DEQshouldnotgiveGlobalapermitforethanolproductionbecauseGlobaldoesnotintendtoproduceethanol.IfDEQinsistsongrantingapermitforanactivitythatwillnotoccur,Global’sethanolproductionandcrudeoilhandlingactivitiesmustbefullydisentangledandpermittedseparately.Global’shistoryofusingethanolpermitsandequipmenttotransloadoilistroubling;DEQneedstoensurethereisnoambiguityinthispermitthatwouldallowthecompanytopullanotherbait-and-switch.Global’srecentactionsanditsleaseamendmentwiththePortofColumbiaCountysuggestthatitispossible,evenlikely,thatGlobalwilloperatealloftheequipment—includingthetankspermittedintheethanolplant’sACDP—fortransloadingheavyoil.

b.TheDraftPermitFailstoPreventGlobalfromUsingEthanolManufacturingEquipmentforStoringandTransloadingOil

DEQshouldincludelanguageinthispermittoensurethatthetanksorotherequipment

permittedfortheuseofethanolproductionandstoragemaynotbeusedforoilstorageortransloading.InSection2.8,thedraftACDPforethanolmanufacturingstates,“[t]hepermitteeisprohibitedfromperformingthetransloadingofcrudeoil.” Thisismisleading.Asexplained11

above,GlobalhasrequestedarenewalofitsACDPforoilstorageandtransloadingactivities;ifthisrenewalisgranted,Global(“thepermittee”)willbeauthorizedtotransloadcrudeoilatthefacilityunderthatpermit.Thus,Section2.8iscompletelymeaninglesssince“thepermittee”willhaveaseparatepermitallowingittodoexactlywhatthisclauseattemptstoprohibit.

Additionally,giventhecurrentambiguityinhowDEQdefines“transloading,”Section

2.8doesnothingtopreventGlobalfromusingthetankscoveredunderthisdraftACDPtostorecrudeoil.DEQdefinestransloadinginthedraftethanolpermitas:“theprocessoftransferringa

8Id.at30.9SeeACDPRenewalApplication,CascadeKellyHoldings(ACDP#05-0023),May31,2019at2.10Seeid.(Requestingthatthetanksinvolvedinthefacility’soriginaloperatingscenario—whichdidnotinvolvethePGEtanksidentifiedabove—beremovedfromtheACDP)11ACDP#05-0006-ST-01,Section2.8at29.

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shipmentfromonemodeoftransportationtoanother(e.g.transferringfromtruckorrailtobarge).” Underastrictreadingofthisdefinition,Globalisnot“transloading”oilwhenit12

unloadsoilfromrailcarsintostoragetanks,andsubsequentlysendstheoilfromthestoragetanktothemarinedock.Infact,underDEQ’sdefinition,Globalisonly“transloading”oilwhenittransfersoildirectlyfromtherailcarstothemarinevessel.ButtheACDPforoiltransloadingincludesemissionsfromtheuseofstoragetanks,indicatingthatoilstorage—asopposedtosimplytransferfromonemodeoftransportationtoanother—occurson-site.Eitherthedefinitionof“transloading”needstoberevisedinbothpermitssothepubliccanmoreaccuratelyunderstandandassesswhichactivitiesarecoveredundereachofthetwopermits,orDEQneedstobemoreclearaboutwhenandwhereoilstorageisorisnotallowed.Tothatend,DEQshouldreviseSection2.8ofthepermittoread,“NostoragetankspermittedunderthisACDPmaybeusedtostoreortransloadcrudeoilunderanycircumstances.”

DEQshouldalsoconsidersimilarlyconditioningtheuseofmarinevesselloading

equipment,marinevaporcombustion,andrecoveryunitstoprohibittheirusefortransloadingandstoringoil.Handlingheavycrudeoilreleasestoxicairpollutantsnotaddressedbythedraftethanolpermit.DEQmustconsidersuchemissionsifitplanstoallowGlobaltousetankspermittedundertheethanolACDPforoilstorageandtransloading.DEQshouldnotallowGlobaltomixitsethanolandoiloperationswhilealsoallowingGlobaltoignorethecombinedairpollutionconsequencesofoil-by-railoperationsandethanolmanufacturing.DEQhasnotclearlydistinguishedtheboundarybetweenGlobal’soilandethanoloperations,despiteDEQ’sassertionthattheethanolproductionandstorageoperationis“completelyseparate”fromoiltransloadingandstorage. 13

WhilepermitSection2.8givestheimpressionthatethanolproductionwillnotfacilitate

thestorageortransloadingofcrudeoil,theconditionwillnotactuallypreventGlobalfromusingethanol-permittedtanks,pipes,andotherequipmenttoshipoil.DEQshouldclarifyandstrengthenthislanguagetoensurethatequipmentusedforethanolproductionisnotusedforoilstorageandtransloading.

c.DEQHasNotAssessedPotentialAirPollutionImpactsFromHandlingHeavyOilAscurrentlywritten,thisdraftACDPforGlobal’sethanoloperationleavesthedooropen

forGlobaltousethetanksincludedinthepermittostoreandtransloadoil.However,DEQhasnotevaluatedthepotentialairemissionsfromthestorageortransloadingofoil,includingthetypesofoilthatGlobalnowintendstohandle.Heavycrudeoilcanpresentuniquetoxichazardsandairpollutionissues.Forexample,dilutedbitumenshippedtotheZenithTerminalinPortland

12ACDP#05-0006-ST-01at3.13ACDP#05-0006-ST-01at3.

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in2019containshighlevelsofhydrogensulfide,benzene,andotherpollutantsthatarenotevaluatedineitherofGlobal’sdraftpermits.TheMaterialSafetyDataSheet(MSDS)foronetypeofdilutedbitumenhandledattheZenithfacilityinPortlandwarnsofsignificanthydrogensulfidehazards:

HYDROGENSULPHIDE.Productmaycontainhazardousquantitiesofdissolvedhydrogensulphidegas.H2Shasabroadrangeofeffectsdependentontheairborneconcentrationandlengthofexposure:0.02ppmodorthreshold,smellofrotteneggs;10ppmeyeandrespiratorytractirritation;100ppmcoughing,headache,dizziness,nausea,eyeirritation,lossofsenseofsmellinminutes;200ppmpotentialforpulmonaryedemaafter>20-30minutes;500ppmlossofconsciousnessaftershortexposures,potentialforrespiratoryarrest;>1000ppmimmediatelossofconsciousness,mayleadrapidlytodeath,promptcardiopulmonaryresuscitationmayberequired.Donotdependonsenseofsmellforwarning.H2Scausesrapidolfactoryfatigue(deadenssenseofsmell).ThereisnoevidencethatH2Swillaccumulateinthebodytissueafterrepeatedexposure. 14

TheMSDSgoesontorecommendthatadditionalsafetymeasuresarerequiredfor

handlingdilutedbitumen,stating,“[f]orroutinesituationswherepotentialexposuretoharmfulvapoursisapossibility:wearaNIOSHapprovedself-containedbreathingapparatus(SCBA)orsuppliedairrespirator.”NeitherofGlobal’sACDPapplicationsconsiderhydrogensulfideemissionsorpresentarealisticpictureoftoxicandcriteriapollutantemissionsassociatedwithhandlingheavyoil.

DEQshouldstoptreatingGlobal’sethanolandcrudeoilhandlingoperationsasinterchangeable,equivalentactivities.Infact,evendifferenttypesofcrudeoilposedifferentairpollutionrisks.DEQshouldrequireGlobaltoprovideananalysisthatencompassesalltypesofproductsthatitmayhandle,includingethanol,Bakkencrude,undilutedtarsands,dilutedbitumen,andanyothertypeofoilthatcouldbetransportedviatheGlobalfacility.

d.DEQFailstoProvideanAggregated,CumulativeLookatAirPollutionImpactsfromOilandEthanolOperations

DEQshouldconsiderthecumulativeimpactsofactivitiescontemplatedinbothofGlobal

Partners’permitrenewalapplications.Clearly,theycannotbemeaningfullyevaluatedindividually.ThepublicdeservesaclearpictureofhowGlobal’sfacilitywilloperateanditspotentialtoproducesignificantairpollution.

14SeeMaterialSafetyDataSheet.AWBSDS.MEGEnergyRailLoadedDilbit.ObtainedfromDEQthroughpublicrecordsrequest.https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5794840-AWB-SDS.html

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Global’sethanolproductionwillreleasesignificantairpollutionintotheenvironment.Additionally,Global’sMay31,2019,applicationtotransloadoilindicatestherecouldbesignificantadditionalpollution,fromsomeofthesametanksandemissionsources.Consideringtheclearoverlapinequipmentcontemplatedforuseunderbothpermits,DEQhasnotperformedanadequateevaluationofpotentialemissionsfromthetanksandotherequipmentidentifiedinthisdraftPermit.

Pollutant EthanolPermit(openforcommentnow)

OilTransloadingPermit(submittedinJune2019,notopenforcommentyet)

Totalpermittedairemissionsifbothairpermitsaregranted

ParticulateMatter(PM)

99(tons/year) 9(tons/year) 108tons/year

SulfurDioxide(SO2) 39 39 78tons/year

NitrogenOxides(NOx)

99 39 138tons/year

CarbonMonoxide(CO)

99 99 198tons/year

VolatileOrganicCompounds(VOCs)

90 78 168tons/year

GreenhouseGases 665,800 74,000 739,000tons/year

HazardousAirPollutants

14.9 3.8 18.7tons/year

Takentogether,Global’sairpermitapplicationshavethepotentialtocreatesignificantair

pollutionatPortWestwardandintheLowerColumbiaregion.Global’soperationswillcontributetotheformationoflow-levelozone(smog)andothertoxicandfineparticulateairpollutionthatcanharmhumanhealth.BecauseGlobal’sethanolandoiloperationsarepotentiallylinkedbythesamestoragetanks,pipes,andcombustionequipment,itdoesnotmake

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senseforDEQtoproceedwithpermittingwithoutafullaccountingoftheairemissionsforbothactivities,includingemissionsassociatedwithrailunloading.

e.DEQMustStopAllowingGlobaltoMakeSignificantChangestotheColumbiaPacificBio-RefineryWithoutPublicNotice,Comment,orAnalysisofPotentialImpacts

DEQhasallowedGlobaltoalteritsplansfortheColumbiaPacificBio-Refinerymultiple

timeswithoutpublicnoticeorcomment.Undera“NoticeofIntenttoConstruct”issuedin2017,forinstance,DEQauthorizedGlobaltobeginhandlingcrudeoilintanksthatGlobalmaypurchasefromPortlandGeneralElectric(PGE). DEQ’sactionsunderminethepublic’sability15

tounderstandtheColumbiaPacificBio-Refineryanditsimpactonpublicsafety,airquality,andwaterresources.WerequestthatDEQrefrainfromallowinganysignificantchangestoGlobalPartners’operationoftheColumbiaPacificBio-Refinerywithoutfirstissuingpublicnoticeandsolicitingpubliccomment.

f.Global’sApplicationReliesonanOutdatedLandUseCompatibilityStatementGlobal’sapplicationmayrelyonanoutdatedlandusecompatibilitydetermination

(LUCS)from2000.ThatLUCSpredatedoilstorageandshipmentattheColumbiaPacificBio-Refinery,aswellastheplannedconstructionorrefurbishmentoftanks. Toourknowledge,16

recentchangestoplansfortheColumbiaPacificBio-Refinery,suchasthepotentialadditionofoldtankstobepurchasedfromPGE,havenotbeenconsideredorapprovedbyColumbiaCounty.DEQshouldnotproceedwiththepermitapplicationuntilGlobaldemonstratesthatitslandusecompatibilitystatementreflectsitsactualoperationallayoutincludingallofitspotentialtanks,pipes,andotherequipment.

g.OilTrainsAreDangerous

Global’sfacilitywouldposeobvious,extremeriskstocommunitiesthroughoutthe

PacificNorthwestifDEQallowsGlobaltoresumeandexpandoiltransloading.Unfortunately,thedraftACDPeasesGlobal’spathtowardsestablishingamajorhubforoiltrainsintheheartoftheColumbiaRiverEstuaryatPortWestward.

OregoniansarewellawarethatGlobal’soiltrainscouldhavedireconsequences

anywherealongtherailline.OnJune3,2016,anoiltrainderailedinMosier,Oregon,travelingatjust26milesperhour.Sixteencarsderailedandfourcarsrupturedandreleasedoil.Thecars

15SeeACDPRenewalApplication,CascadeKellyHoldings(ACDP#05-0023),May31,2019at2.16SeeACDP#05-0006-ST-01at1.

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involvedwereCPC-1232cars,considerednewerandsaferthanDOT-111cars.OilspilledintotheColumbiaRiver,andtheensuingfireburnedfor14hours,closingI-84,promptingschoolandhomeevacuations,anddamagingMosier’swatersystem.

MosierOilTrainDerailmentandFire.June3,2016.

TheMosierincidentinvolvedvolatileBakkencrudeoil,butothertypesofoiltrainsalso

poseseriousdangers.Trainscarryingheavytarsandsoil,includingdilutedbitumenfromAlberta,Canada,canalsoburnduringderailments.In2015,anoiltraincarryingtarsandsoilinCPC-1232carthroughGogama,Ontario,Canadaderailedandburned. Gogama’sFireChief,17

MikeBenson,gaveastartlingaccountoftheincident:

Therailcarswereblowingup;torching300feetintothesky.ThosewerenewoilcarswithenhancedfancyendcapsthattheythoughtweregoingtoreplaceolderDOT-111carsandpreventaspillifaderailmenthappens.Theendsofthesecarswereblowingoffliketincans.Weheardsevencarsblowoffinlikeanhour.Whentheyblewitwastheloudestnoiseyouheardinyourlife.Itwasaccompaniedbyheavyheavyblacksmoke.Itwassuchacatastrophicthing. 18

17TrainderailsinNorthernOntario,heighteningsafetyfears.TheGlobeandMail.May2015.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/crews-battle-blaze-after-train-derails-in-northern-ontario/article23351305/18“'Ihaveneverseenanythingmoreterrifying':Gogamafirechiefrecallsderailment.”2017.https://www.sudbury.com/around-the-north/i-have-never-seen-anything-more-terrifying-gogama-fire-chief-recalls-derailment-527093

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Theflammabilityoftarsandsshipmentsisdependent,atleastinpart,ontheproportionandcharacteristicsofdiluentsaddedtothetarsandsoil.tochangetheviscosityoftarsandsbitumen,whichisthickinitsundilutedform.

TarSandsTrainDerailsandBurnsinGogama,Ontarioin2015.

Justastroubling,thethick,toxicoilthatspillsfromthesederailmentscansinkinwater,

makingcontainmentorcleanupnearlyimpossible.InJuly2010,apipelinecarryingtarsandsoilrupturedandspilledoilintotheKalamazooRiverinMichigan.Oilcontainmentsystemsfailedwhenthespilledoilbegantoweatherandsink.InJune2018,atraincarryingtarsandsderailedandspilledinDoon,Iowa,demonstratingthatpotentialrisksthatColumbiaRivercommunitiescouldfaceinalargetarsandstrainderailmentandspill.

Left:TarsandsoilescapescontainmentinKalamazooRiverspillin2010.Right:OiltraincarryingtarsandsderailsandspillsonfloodedBNSFtracknearDoon,Iowain2018.

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Eachoiltraincarriesroughlythreemilliongallonsofoil.IfGlobaladdstankstorageandrailunloadingcapability,Portland,Vancouver,andColumbiaCountycommunitiescouldseeuptotwotrainsperdaydeliveringcrudeoiltoGlobal’sfacility,basedontheACDPapplicationscurrentlyunderconsiderationbyOregonDEQ.WhilewerecognizethatoiltrainrisksarenotyetincludedinDEQ’sevaluationofGlobal’sACDPapplications,wearealarmedthattheapplicationsandGlobal’sdraftACDPforethanolmanufacturingseemdesignedtocreateflexibilityandanampleopportunitytoincreaseoiltraindangersinourcommunities.

h.SummaryandConclusionInsummary,weurgeDEQtoconsiderthefollowing:

● DEQshoulddenytheACDPforethanolmanufacturingbecauseGlobaldoesnotintendtomanufactureethanol.

● Global’sACDPforethanolmanufacturingisconfusing.DEQshouldclearlyseparateequipmentusedforethanolfromequipmentusedforoil.Theethanolproductionpermitshouldnotallowthecompanytobuild,buy,oroperatetanksthatwillhandleoil.DEQshouldconsiderwithdrawingthedraftpermit,amendingthepermittoremovetheoverlapbetweenoilandethanoloperations,andre-circulatinganewdraftforpubliccomment.

● Ascurrentlydrafted,DEQshoulddenyGlobal’sairpermitrenewalapplicationbecauseGlobalclearlyintendstousesomeofthepermittedfacilitiestostoreandshipcrudeoil.InitstwoACDPapplications,Globalhasrequestedpermissiontousemultipletanks—totalingover30milliongallonsofstorage—forbothethanolproductionandoiltransloadingactivities.

● Thepermitdoesnotevaluatethepotentialairpollutionimpactsofethanoltanksbeingusedforoil.Heavycrudeoilcancontainsignificantquantitiesoftoxicairpollutionsuchashydrogensulfideandvolatileorganiccompoundssuchasbenzenethatarenotevaluatedinthepermitforethanolproduction.

● DEQshouldreplaceSection2.8oftheethanolpermitwithclearlanguageprohibitingthepermitteefromusingtanksorotherequipmentauthorizedundertheethanolproductionpermitforunloading,storing,handlingortransloadingcrudeoil.DEQ’scurrentcondition,statingthatthe“permitteeisprohibitedfromperformingthetransloadingofcrudeoil,”isinadequate.

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● DEQshouldprovidethepublicwithaclearpictureofhowGlobal’sfacilitywilloperateanditspotentialtoproducesignificantairpollution.

Inconclusion,weurgeDEQtoeitherdenythedraftACDPforGlobalPartners’

ColumbiaPacificBio-Refineryorwithdrawitandamenditsignificantlytoremoveoverlapbetweenthecompany’soilandethanoloperations.Ifthedraftpermitiswithdrawnandrevised,DEQshouldcirculateanewdraftpermitforpubliccomment.DEQshouldnotallowGlobaltoestablishanoil-by-railterminalundertheguiseofanethanolfacility,norshoulditallowGlobaltothreatenthehealth,safety,andwaterqualityofColumbiaCountyresidentsbyincreasingoiltraintraffic.

Thankyouforconsideringthesecomments.Sincerely,

ErinSaylor,StaffAttorneyforColumbiaRiverkeeperSubmittedonbehalfof:CenterforSustainableEconomyColumbiaRiverkeeperEnvisionColumbiaCountyFriendsoftheColumbiaGorgeNeighborsforCleanAirNorthwestEnvironmentalDefenseCenter

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