Vancouver firefighters union opposes oil terminal at port (public safety)
http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/oct/13/vancouver-firefighters-oppose-oil-terminal-port/
By Aaron Corvin, Columbian Port & Economy Reporter
Published: October 13, 2015, 11:34 AM
Citing threats to public safety, the head of Vancouvers firefighters union announced Tuesday that the union opposes a proposal to build the nations largest rail-to-ship oil transfer terminal at the Port of Vancouver.
The city is not staffed appropriately and we dont have the training, and we dont have the equipment to effectively respond to an emergency at the oil terminal, Mark Johnston, president the Vancouver Firefighters Union IAFF Local 452, told port commissioners during the ports regular public meeting. The meeting was packed with opponents of the oil terminal (one attendee spoke favorably about the terminal) who blasted the port for hiding information from people and ignoring their safety concerns, and who urged the port to cancel its lease with Tesoro Corp., a petroleum refiner, and Savage Cos., a transportation company.
Were not risk-averse, said Johnston, whose union represents about 185 firefighters with the city and Clark County Fire District 5. But we understand a disaster down here would be catastrophic not only for the community, and the port and its neighbors, but for the first responders as well.
As of 11:30 a.m., after the port had moved onto to other business on its agenda, no one on the ports staff or commission had responded to what Johnston or others said during the public meeting, which grew tense at times. Opponents waved anti-oil terminal signs and applauded after people made remarks to commissioners. At one point, Commissioner Nancy Baker said that continued applause just means were going to be here a lot longer.
FULL story at link.