The public only has until April 15th to weigh in. You can submit comments here.
— from Skagit Valley Herald —
Skagit County will require an environmental review for the Tesoro Anacortes Refinery’s proposed $400 million xylene project.
The review, called an environmental impact statement, determines what impact the project will have on the environment and what steps can be taken to mitigate those impacts.
The review has multiple steps, starting with a process to determine the scope of the study, such as if it should focus only on the refinery’s property or also include surrounding areas.
Skagit County Planning and Development Services is accepting public comments on what the study should include through April 15.
SOURCE, FULL STORY AVAILABLE AT: https://www.goskagit.com/all_access/skagit-county-requiring-environmental-review-of-tesoro-xylene-project/article_3fce7011-f5b3-5509-bd8b-98c33ec1206e.html
ADDITIONAL DETAILS AVAILABLE AT: https://www.sightline.org/2016/03/28/public-comment-period-for-tesoros-anacortes-xylene-facility-closes-april-15/
TESORO FAQs AVAILABLE AT: https://anacortesupgradeproject.com/faq
Xylene???? Holy expletive! Please, people – comment! Spread this word on social media. What are the chances this can get into our water? It’s a carcinogen, along with benzene, toluene, and similar solvents. If it causes cancer in humans, imagine what it can do to our waters, and how many other life forms it can affect. This plant would be right on the water. If it is an endocrine disruptor in humans, imagine what it will do to other life forms. Our prevailing winds blow from the SE or NE – so from Anacortes, the xylene blows toward us. the main exposure is through breathing it. Even short-term exposure to high levels of xylene causes death in animals. Just because there is not enough “proof” by scientists of long term effects, doesn’t mean it’s not toxic and harmful.
https://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2015/apr/endocrine-disruption-hormones-benzene-solvents
https://www.eco-usa.net/toxics/xylene.shtml
Thank you, Sadie, for keeping us in the know.
Thank you Sadie
That sounds horrible. I will look for more information and certainly add a statement during the public comment period. I would think all of San Juan county would be/should be loudly upset and strongly against this proposal.