Learn About Oil Train Accidents and Hazard In This Video

It happened in other cities. What makes anyone think it can not happen here?

We are a perfect storm for a very dangerous explosion.. downtown rail lines are built on fill in a high seismic risk area and oil trains travel within yards of 2 large diesel fuel tanks at Encogen and a gas station at F street, and the train takes a sharp left under the bridge leading to marine drive, which makes the oil trains unstable.

So who in their right mind would find this to be an appropriate place for new residential and commercial development? Why, the city of Bellingham, silly. They have accepted a new application to build a 4 story condo on F and Astor Street. Look on a map at how close that is to the oil trains.

Is this responsible development? Is this even GMA compliant? If you think it is a bad idea, please attend or write a letter to the city planning staff. A meeting between the developer and the community is planned for October 20.

Now is when we decide, as a community, if we are going to take a stand against building and developing within the one mile blast zone. This has very large implications, far more extensive than the condo unit development, because this is a problem for the entirety of the waterfront.

If there is an oil train explosion, someone could die or be injured while in new development constructed after the city was aware of the oil trains. I suggest that the city raise the limits on its liability insurance. I am just guessing, but I suspect that insurance against an oil train explosion would be very expensive.

Read Wendy’s post on the Whatcom Hawk Facebook page here.