By Nancy Hiser
For more than 10 years, Linnton has been absorbing the huge risks we face from the CEI Hub facilities. More than a dozen research and academic reports have documented the many dangers the CEI Hub presents. Neighborhood and community organizations have continually supported our concerns by signing on to our letters to officials.
The first government action was from the County—led by Commissioners Meieran and Jayapal, with John Wasiutynski —who held town halls here and in St Johns. Their subsequent research report (2021) was at least partially responsible for shaking up state officials who, under State Senator Dembrow, sponsored a bill that gave DEQ authority to act. It requires larger oil facilities to conduct seismic stability studies and take steps to reduce their risks. This could take up to 10 years to make us safer. Several years ago, the City refused to grant Zenith Energy permission (with a Land Use Compatibility Statement) to do business and then, confusingly, reversed course last year. While they can rescind this, they claim they don’t have real authority to act.
Now, a bright spot. Senators Merkley and Wyden, along with multiple federal representatives including Congresswoman Bonamici, have agreed that the federal government does have a role to play. They are investigating channels and funding for community safety programs including a disaster warning system integrated into facilities’ operations to trigger a shutdown to avoid cascading issues, increased response capability for toxic spills to protect the Willamette and beyond, and improved fire response measures for Forest Park. Two critical areas of federal authority that lower levels of government do not have jurisdiction over are railroads and pipelines. We are finally hearing that it will take all levels of government working together to solve our CEI Hub problems.