Riveters, this is an urgent call to take action by Tuesday, March 21, to protect Cherry Point from fossil fuel export! We need all who can to do BOTH of the following:
1. Oppose Senator Ericksen’s efforts to reverse the order that removed the 45-acre pier-sized cutout from the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve boundary.
- In January 2017, honoring Lummi Nation’s request and with strong public support, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark issued an order that amended the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve boundary to remove the 45-acre pier-sized cutout that had been left for then-proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal when the Reserve was established. See here for more information.
- Senator Ericksen proposed SB 5171 to rescind that order and require that any future aquatic reserve designation, establishment, or enlargement be expressly authorized by the legislature. That bill did not make it out of committee.
- Now, Senator Ericksen is trying to amend a bill on utility easements for aquatic lands to include the language from SB5171. He is flying back from DC to hold a hearing on Tuesday, March 21, at 10am in the Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.
- Take action!
- Call committee members and ask them to oppose amendment S-2118.1 to HB1001. Let’s flood them with calls on MONDAY, 3/20!!
- Hotline 1-800-562-6000
- Committee members:
- Chair: Doug Ericksen, 42nd, (360) 786-7682
- Vice-Chair: Tim Sheldon, 35th, (360) 786-7668
- Reuven Carlyle, 36th, (360) 786-7670
- Sharon Brown, 8th, (360) 786-7614
- Steve Hobbs, 44th, (360) 786-7686
- Jim Honeyford, 15th, (360) 786-7684
- Kevin Ranker, 40th, (360) 786-7678
- Shelly Short, 7th, (360) 786-7612
- Lisa Wellman, 41st, (360) 786-7641
- Suggested Script: My name is [insert name] and I live in [insert County]. I’m calling to urge the Senator to oppose Senator Ericksen’s striking amendment (S-2118.1) to HB1001. It’s a back-door approach to overturn protection of the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. This reserve was based on science and significant public input over several years. It followed a decision by the US Army Corps that was based on 27 separate studies and 124,000 comments by citizens across Washington State. Prior to setting aside the reserve, the DNR received 5,000 responses in favor of the protected reserve and just 10 opposed, including one from Senator Ericksen. Please oppose this back-door approach to overturning science and the public’s will.
- If you can, attend the public hearing in Olympia on 3/21 at 10am. Public leaders are being asked to attend the hearing to speak out on impacts of fossil fuel export projects. Show your support for these speakers by wearing red!
- Call committee members and ask them to oppose amendment S-2118.1 to HB1001. Let’s flood them with calls on MONDAY, 3/20!!
2. Ask Whatcom County Council to extend the moratorium on unrefined fossil fuel export projects and strengthen Comprehensive Plan policies for Cherry Point.
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- Although SSA Marine has withdrawn their 2011 county permits for a coal terminal at Cherry Point, the fact is still the same: Cherry Point remains a targeted route to export crude oil, tar sands, and fracked gas.
- Whatcom County Council is working on updates to their Comprehensive Plan policies for Cherry Point. Let’s call on Whatcom County Council to take action to protect the public by discourage projects that will bring more dangerous crude oil shipments through Whatcom County and the Salish Sea!
- Take action!
- Email Whatcom County Council at council@co.whatcom.wa.us
- Suggested script:
- Email Whatcom County Council at council@co.whatcom.wa.us
Dear Whatcom County Council,
As a [insert city] resident and citizen of Whatcom County, I implore you to act to the full extent of your power to protect our community’s health and safety, farms, fisheries and natural resources from the dangers of fossil fuel shipments by rail, pipeline and marine vessel. Cherry Point is a targeted route to export crude oil, tar sands, fracked gas, and propane from Canada, which would bring high risks of spills, leaks, explosions, pollution, traffic, a local tax burden, reduced property values, and the degradation of our quality of life.
I urge you to take the following actions, without delay:
- Extend the temporary moratorium on permits for fossil fuel export projects until the Shoreline Master Plan is updated and until new development regulations are implemented. Additionally, please add a moratorium on applications for any modification of piers, docks, or wharfs in or adjacent to the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve.
- Commence a legal study into Whatcom County’s powers to prevent future development for coal, oil, and gas exports.
- Strengthen policies in the Comprehensive Plan to prevent piecemeal upgrades for oil exports by requiring Magnuson Amendment review of all permits that involve handling petroleum; block any new proposals for shipping piers in the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve; recognize Lummi Nation’s history and treaty-protected fishing rights; and complete a legal study by December 2017.
I support your work to protect the ecological and cultural significance of Cherry Point. Thank you.
- Attend the public hearing on Tuesday, March 21st, at 7pm in the Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham, and WEAR RED! RSVP to ReSources by sending an email to cleanenergy@re-sources.org.