By Nancy Hiser
Following a decade of local advocacy efforts around Linnton’s air quality–meetings with Oregon’s DEQ and the U.S. EPA, taking air samples, writing reports, drafting legislative proposals, and more–help has arrived!
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that some fuel storage tanks may not minimize or prevent emissions so they are studying nine CEI Hub facilities’ emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
hazardous air pollutants.
Oregon’s Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub, partially located within Linnton, is one of 27 nationwide facilities in overburdened communities that EPA is studying. These CEI facilities are required to collect fenceline air monitoring data for five VOCs: benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylenes and hexane.
• Chevron U.S.A. Inc.: Willbridge Distribution Terminal
• Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals, LLC: Willbridge Terminal
• Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals, LLC: Linnton Terminal
• McCall Oil and Chemical Corporation
• Phillips 66 Company: Portland Terminal
• Seaport Midstream Partners, LLC: Portland Terminal
• Shore Terminals, LLC (NuStar Energy L.P.): Portland Terminal
• Triton West, LLC (Shell Pipeline Company L.P.): Shell
• Zenith Energy Terminals Holdings, LLC
Air monitors will collect data for one year and facilities will submit the data every two weeks to be posted on the EPA’s website. This information will help the EPA identify excessive pollutants and consider what corrective actions might be needed.
The monitoring data will not show the concentrations of pollutants in the adjacent communities – what people are exposed to or the potential impacts to public health. So, advocates are actively working to gather air quality data in nearby neighborhoods to compare it with the EPA’s data.
If you want to participate in the community study or learn more about this project, please contact nancyhiser@comcat.net.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the air permitting authority for the CEI Hub facilities. Both DEQ and EPA share responsibility and work collaboratively to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act.
For more info on the EPA’s monitoring program at Oregon’s CEI-Hub, go to: https://tinyurl.com/4tve46b5