Hearing for oil terminal proposal to be held April 29 in Centralia

Centralia High School will be hosting a public hearing April 29 to take testimony regarding a proposed oil terminal in Hoquiam, which may have an impact on local rail communities.

Scheduled for 5-9 p.m. in the High School Commons (813 Eshom Rd, Centralia), the purpose of the hearing is to gather input on what should be studied in environmental impact statements being prepared for proposals submitted by Westway Terminal Company and Imperium Renewables, who are intending to expand bulk liquid storage facilities at the Port of Grays Harbor.

The hearing will be facilitated by the Washington State Department of Ecology, and local residents are expected to speak of how rail traffic in communities such as Castle Rock, Vader, Winlock and Napavine, Chehalis and Centralia could increase significantly if such an expansions were approved, as well as the dangers of transporting crude oil by rail.

For more information about this hearing, contact Ecology’s Southwest Regional Planner Diane Butorac at (360) 407-6594, or dbut461@ecy.wa.gov. Those unable to attend the hearing will have until May 27 to submit written input to Ecology.