Did you know that Targa Resources, a fossil fuel pipeline, fuel storage and transportation company, runs crude oil storage and terminaling facilities in Tacoma? Those are the huge tanks you can see along the Hylebos Waterway near the Port (2628 Marine View Drive). A few years ago, Targa (now under the name SeaPort Sound) expanded their rail capacity (oil trains) for “increased efficiency.” Now they have requested to increase their crude oil and other fossil fuel storage capacity.
Is there any doubt that means more fossil fuel industry in Tacoma? And more risk for all of us if something goes wrong. And more impacts to the environment and climate change.
We talked with Tracy Wiegman and Dan Villa, volunteers with 350 Tacoma, about their organization’s efforts to track industrial development at the Port and Tideflats, and to fight against the continued fossil fuel expansion in Tacoma.
350 Tacoma is part of the larger 350.org organization focused on the goal of building a global climate movement. 350 was named after 350 parts per million — the safe concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Locally, 350 Tacoma has been actively working alongside the Puyallup Tribe and local environmentalists opposing the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Refinery Facility, and has been working monthly since January 2018 to restore a tiny neglected salt marsh and mud flat in the industrial Port of Tacoma. If you’d like more information on their activities, check out their website at https://www.350tacoma.org.
It is difficult to find out what is happening at the Port and in the industrial lands around the Port. One of the charges of 350 Tacoma is to track development and let the public know what is happening so that we can be part of the decision making. It’s our city, and we should decide what happens in it.
Listen to the podcast, and let us know what you think!
Targa/SeaPort Sound Permit info: https://aca-prod.accela.com/TACOMA/TACOMA/Tacoma.aspx
Here is the official notice of the Targa/SeaPort plan to expand their storage tanks:
Permit: LU20-0107
Address: 2628 MARINE VIEW DR
Parcel Number: 0321264046
Status: Public Comment
Description: Public Information Meeting July 30, 6 p.m. contact staff for information. SeaPort Sound is proposing to demolish existing refinery equipment and replace it with new storage tanks and appurtenances at the SeaPort Sound Terminal. The Project also includes installing a new stormwater line parallel to and around an existing blocked storm line on the east side of the property.
Notice Date: 8/20/2020
Public Comment Date: 9/21/2020
If you have feedback on this episode, or ideas for other discussions, please get in touch!
Evelyn Lopez: truetacoma@gmail.com @True_Tacoma
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