Officials at Vancouver Energy have issued a statement in response to last week’s decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to subject their project – an oil export terminal located at the Port of Vancouver – to an additional evaluation process.
In the statement, the company reiterated its commitment to the project and said that it will “fully cooperate” with the Army Corps. Because Vancouver Energy is already waiting on a review from the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), the company said it does not expect the Army Corps’ assessment to impact the project schedule.
Vancouver Energy’s statement, in full, reads:
“The Vancouver Energy terminal is still progressing through the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) review and permitting process. The next milestone is EFSEC’s release of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), which is expected in July. We will fully cooperate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as it completes its assessment for the terminal’s in-water construction elements, including seismic upgrades to the existing dock that will be used at the terminal. The Corps’ assessment can be completed concurrently with the remainder of the EFSEC process, so we don’t expect any project schedule impacts or delays. Vancouver Energy remains committed to the project and intends to begin construction as soon as possible following the Governor’s approval of the project and issuance of permits.”
Last week, the Army Corps announced it was rejecting a request from Vancouver Energy, also known as Tesoro Savage Petroleum Terminal LLC, for a standardized permit that wouldn’t have prompted an evaluation. The Corps will now seek public review and comment on the proposal, in addition to considering the project’s potential impact on water, air and critical habitat. The transportation of oil via railcar will not factor in to the Corp’s permitting process, the agency said.