By Nancy Hiser
Yumei (“you MAY”) Wang, the professional engineer who coined the term “Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub” in 2012 and has advocated for CEI Hub safety continuously since then, has taken a big step and is asking for our support.
She’s contacted Oregon’s US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and US Representatives, including Suzanne Bonamici, to ask for federal funding and action on critical safety issues related to the CEI Hub.
Read her Letter to the Editor in the Oregonian here:
https://tinyurl.com/yvmttmv5
Linnton Speaks Out, now 50 advocates and allies, answered that call in May by contacting officials and supporting her requests:
• Establish earthquake warning systems for the life-safety of oil terminal workers and nearby residents. By integrating a system into oil facilities’ operations, it would trigger a shutdown of operations to avoid cascading issues that would occur following an earthquake. The best known system, ShakeAlert, provides valuable seconds of warning so people can drop, cover, and hold on. For oil facilities to adopt this has been described as a “no brainer” by many experts.
• Improve fire control measures in Forest Park as fires “pose the greatest life safety threat as well as cause health impacts due to toxic inhalation hazards.” Wildfire is a seasonal risk here that we must prepare for, but it’s also likely to follow a seismic event. With first responders unable to reach the Forest Park vicinity following a catastrophe, the situation could be grave for those living nearby.
• Increase capability to respond to a fuel spill. Cited repeatedly as an immense shortcoming, there is no coordinated spill response plan by responsible agencies for the size of a potential spill caused by a major seismic event. Risks to people, including tribal communities, to wildlife, and to the environment would be unparalleled in the US; the recovery prolonged, and clean up would cost billions of dollars. With 90-95% of Oregon’s liquid fuel stored at the CEI Hub, the entire state will lack fuel for basic and emergency needs, compromising recovery.
Take Action: Engaging the federal government is critical for our safety. Contact these congressional officials and tell them of your concerns for “Portland Fuel Terminals Safety.” Draft your comments and paste them in their websites to be counted.
Senator Ron Wyden
Portland Office: 503-326-7525
To email go to:
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/email-ron
Senator Jeff Merkley
Portland Office: 503-326-3386
To email go to:
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact
Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District)
Oregon Office: 503-469-6010
To email go to:
https://tinyurl.com/24paxtkf
Also, contact the National Institute of Building Sciences –
https://www.nibs.org – to ask them to develop related safety plans for Oregon’s aging energy infrastructure.
It’s clear that this will require an ongoing effort to convince the federal officials of their role in helping us. To ask questions or offer help, email
nancyhiser@comcast.net