By Renee Lewis / Source Fusion
A Washington state tribe trying to stop a planned oil terminal expansion near its reservation says grassroots resistance is working—citing a trend of similar proposals being dropped in the state and the success of the sustained resistance against the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota.
“We know we can stop some of these projects because we have already seen some successes,” said Fawn Sharp, president of the Quinault Indian Nation in Grays Harbor County, WA.
In October, Shell halted its plans for an oil-by-rail project at its refinery in nearby Anacortes following broad opposition. Earlier this year, two crude oil storage proposals in Grays Harbor County were dropped—leaving just Contanda’s project.
The Cherry Point coal export terminal planned in Whatcom County was rejected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May because it would impact the treaty rights of the Lummi Nation.
Fossil fuel projects have been opposed in the Pacific Northwest because of the local impact as well as their overall contribution to climate change.
Climate change has already impacted the Quinault. One of the tribe’s villages, Taholah, is being relocated because of threats from sea level rise as well as tsunami threats.
