County: No EIS needed for Shell rail yard

The County will not require an environmental impact statement for Shell’s proposed new March Point rail yard designed to accept 102-car trains carrying roughly 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota’s Bakken formation.

The decision from the Skagit County Office of Planning and Development Services says, “An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(C).” But, the decision is contingent on Shell complying with a series of regulations by federal and state agencies.

“We want Skagit County and the State to study the risks of this project now, instead of waiting and studying a disaster later. That’s just common sense,” said Sandra Spargo, an Anacortes resident concerned about the project.

“After oil-train disasters like the ones in Quebec and North Dakota, it’s just plain irresponsible for Skagit County to say the risks and impacts of this oil train project aren’t ‘significant’,” said Spargo, in a news release.

The crude brought in by rail would replace some supply currently brought in by ship and would serve to maintain current production, not increase capacity. Designs submitted by Shell show a rail spur and parallel-track offloading facility stretching approximately one mile from the BNSF Railway main line along South March Point Rd. near Highway 20.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Northwest Clean Air Agency in Mount Vernon notes that the agency is not able to regulate any increase in air pollution from an increase in rail traffic to Shell’s refinery. In a news release, the agency said, “Many requesting a hearing have expressed concerns about issues outside the scope of the draft air operating permit, and outside NWCAA’s jurisdiction.”

“Considering recent events in the news, we understand why people are sensitive and looking for ways to improve rail and refinery safety,” said NWCAA Executive Director Mark Asmundson. “But we want to be straightforward about what our agency and this permit can and can’t do, and try to adjust expectations before the hearing.”

The NWCAA statement said, “The draft air operating permit doesn’t address new train projects. Air operating permits don’t approve new construction.” And, the agency added, “The air operating permit won’t allow the Shell refinery to increase its emissions, and it won’t require the refinery to decrease emissions.”

UPDATE: The Clean Air Agency has set a public hearing on Shell’s air operating permit for 10 am Wednesday, Apr. 30 at Skagit County downtown Administration Building, 700 S. 2nd St., Room C, Mount Vernon.

Meanwhile, the County’s Planning and Development Services department will accept public comments until May 9.