Michael Lang, Conservation Director, Friends of the Columbia Gorge
(503) 490-3979 michael@gorgefriends.org
The Union Pacific rail expansion proposal is set for an appeal hearing before the Wasco County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, Nov 2 at 3:00 p.m. at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles. The public is invited to attend and comment on the appeal. Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Columbia Riverkeeper, and Physicians for Social Responsibility are appealing the Wasco County Planning Commission’s decision last month to grant Union Pacific their permit for a new track through Mosier, OR. The Yakama Nation is also appealing the decision due to violation of its treaty rights, and Union Pacific is challenging the decision to further weaken its conditions of approval.
Arlene Burns, the mayor of Mosier, OR said, “We join the Yakima Nation, Friends of the Gorge, Columbia Riverkeepers, and the Physicians for Social Responsibility in urging our County Commissioners to protect our communities and the entire National Scenic Area from further impacts of rail expansion, especially of highly explosive crude oil trains. One track is enough!”
Rail traffic experts retained by Friends of the Columbia Gorge issued a report last August finding that Union Pacific Railroad’s proposed rail expansion in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area could result in a massive expansion in the number of trains traveling through the Columbia Gorge and would not provide the health and safety benefits touted by the railroad. Due to its location, these improvements to the railroad infrastructure through Mosier could have tremendous ripple effects throughout Wasco County and the Pacific Northwest, including a potential increase of rail capacity from the current 30 to 48 trains per day up to 75 to 100 trains per day. The report was produced by Terry Whiteside of Whiteside and Associates based in Billings, MT, and G.W. Fauth & Associates based in Alexandria, VA. Link to report
“The Wasco County Planning Commission ignored the law and the concerns raised by hundreds of Gorge residents and many local elected officials,” said Kevin Gorman, Executive Director of Friends of the Columbia Gorge. “Gorge Communities have spoken loud and clear that they do not want more trains, moving at higher speeds carrying dangerous crude oil.”
The City of Mosier is still recovering from the Union Pacific oil train derailment, spill and fire on June 3 that leaked 40,000 gallons of crude oil and contaminated groundwater in the small town. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a report in June finding that Union Pacific was at fault for the accident because it failed to follow safety and rail inspection requirements.
View Wasco County’s website for more information on the hearing process.
Read the FRA’s preliminary factual findings report on the Mosier derailment, as well as the agency’s safety analyses of UP and all railroads, respectively.
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