Site evaluation council advances review process for proposed crude terminal at Washington state port

The Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) on Wednesday issued an order to begin the prehearing phase of the site review process for a proposed crude-oil terminal at the Port of Vancouver USA.

The hearings are the next part of the project's review, which also includes an ongoing environmental study. EFSEC expects to issue a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in spring. Hearings would begin later this year after the DEIS is issued.

Tesoro Savage Petroleum Terminal LLC applied for a site certification agreement from EFSEC to construct and operate a crude terminal at the Washington state port. At full operation, the terminal would receive up to 360,000 barrels of crude per day delivered by up to four unit trains. The port is served by BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.

After a thorough review of the proposed terminal, EFSEC will make a recommendation to Washington Gov. Inslee, who will make the final decision on the project.

Those seeking to become parties in the adjudication should file petitions to intervene by Feb. 27, council officials said in a press release.