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SUCCESS! ...but we're not done yet!

Thanks to your incredible support and persistent pressure, the Eugene City Council has withdrawn the zoning decision for the Trainsong biofuel transfer station! This is a huge win for our community and proof that when we raise our voices together, the City Council listens. While the fight isn't over yet, this victory shows we’re on the path to protecting Trainsong from this hazardous project.

 
TAKE ACTION ONLINE TODAY!

 

URGENT! ACTION ALERT!

We must continue to Stand Up to stop the USD fuel transfer facility in Trainsong!

The good news is the City of Eugene listened to YOUR community advocacy and took the right step to withdraw its approval of the zoning verification for the proposed biofuel transfer station! This is a major victory for the community’s right to be consulted and involved before large polluting corporations get approval to build a facility in our community!

Where are we Now?
The City has 90 days from October 18 to make their final decision about whether to re-approve, modify or reject their original decision to greenlight this fuel transfer project. Now is the time City officials and staff need to hear from all of us that the final outcome must be a rejection of this dangerous proposal.

We must not let a Texas-based fossil fuel conglomerate take advantage of our vulnerable neighborhoods. Despite selling their biofuels projects as green and sustainable, the history of the USD Group is moving crude oil, tar sands and bitumen from Canada to US ports.

NEXT STEP:

TODAY! We need YOU to continue to contact the City Council to demand they protect Trainsong and River Road neighbors from further pollution and safety risks. Raise your voice, flood their inboxes, and make it clear the City must reject USD’s application to build a massive facility in Eugene!

3 ways you can contact your city councilors:

1) Fill out our FAST RESPONSE form (below) to deliver our message to both Mayor Vinis and all 8 of Eugene's City Councilors

2) Call your own City Councilor and ask for their prompt attention and action on this issue: see this page for a listing of contact information.

3) Email Send emails to both the Mayor and all 8 city councilors at once: mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov

>>Find out what Eugene ward I'm in

>>Need help crafting language for your communications? See our talking points to help you craft your calls and emails!

NOTE: When communicating with the Mayor and City Councilors, please be polite and include your ward number or address in your communication.

 
Please fill out and send the FAST Response form below!

NOTE: the FAST Response Form has a limit to words allowed from individual constituents.
If you have more to say, please use this email address: 
mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov
to send your own personalized email to the Mayor and all 8 City Councilors at once.

 

Background: USD Clean Fuels LLC (USDCF) announced its intention to build a new biofuels terminal in the Trainsong Neighborhood located along Bethel Drive in West Eugene. The location is across the street from homes and parks. This facility will have the capability to transload renewable diesel, biodiesel, ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from rail cars to tanker trucks. The terminal will be served by the BNSF Railway. USD Clean Fuels LLC stated that the transfer station will result in 40 individual tanker truck trips daily (24 hours/day) which is 80 roundtrips. Ethanol, renewable diesel, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel will be delivered to the Eugene railyard by rail, then transloaded (transferred) from railcar to truck without storage.

The U.S. Energy and Administration states that ethanol and ethanol-gasoline mixtures burn cleaner and have higher octane levels than gasoline that does not contain ethanol, but they also have higher evaporative emissions from fuel tanks and dispensing equipment. These evaporative emissions contribute to the formation of harmful, ground-level ozone and smog. This may mean an additional burden of harmful air pollution for residents of Trainsong and the southern area of the River Road Neighborhood.

Bethel Drive is a small and unimproved access street for residents of Trainsong and is not constructed to accommodate 40 heavy tanker truck trips per day. Despite this strain on transportation resources as well as the impacts of noise, vibrations, lack of safety and a significant increase in diesel particulate pollution from truck emissions,, the City of Eugene is not planning to do a traffic impact analysis. According to USD Clean Fuels, LLC, “the City of Eugene has not identified any traffic safety, operations, or pedestrian/bike issues that would warrant additional levels of service.”

Trainsong is a residential neighborhood that has been impacted time and again by industrial pollution. Currently Trainsong Park, which serves children in the neighborhood, is being rebuilt after the Oregon Dept of Environmental Quality found very high levels of dioxin contamination. The neighborhood is also exposed to diesel particulate from idling trains, a history of noxious fumes from nearby industries (including the former J.H. Baxter plant), contaminated groundwater, leaking rail cars, and other historic pollution sources.


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FALL 2024 UPDATE

The City of Eugene is holding public meetings to share the latest design for the Golden Gardens Park Sports Complex and Neighborhood Park. The public is asked to give input on the latest design for the 223-acre park and sports complex which includes 14 sports fields, a 124-acre natural area with protections for turtles and native species, a trail system and a 12-acre neighborhood park. Community concerns include inadequate protection for Western Pond Turtle, plastic grass/artificial turf playing fields, sports field lighting, and over 700 paved parking spaces, deterioration of wetland ecosystems and water quality.

 

TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT GOLDEN GARDENS TODAY!

Here are a few ways you can get involved:

1) Join us for one of the upcoming meetings and make your voice heard. Public input can significantly improve the proposed design. Tell City Parks and Open Space to protect our communities from overuse of Eugene’s unique natural ecosystems, to protect wildlife and keep plastic grass/artificial turf out of our public parks and playing fields.

Sign up to attend one of the upcoming community meetings:

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024 Public Meeting
5:30 - 7:30 PM at Prairie Mountain School Cafeteria
5305 Royal Ave., Eugene, OR 97402 - (google map)

Wednesday, Nov 20, 2024 Virtual Public Meeting
12 - 1 PM, via Zoom:
REGISTER (required)

 

2) Write to Eugene Parks & Open Space representatives on the Golden Gardens Committee

Mark A Kosmos: mkosmos@eugene-or.gov
Carolyn J Burke: cburke@eugene-or.gov

See the talking points (below) to help craft your message.

NOTE: When communicating with the City of Eugene officials, please be polite and include your Eugene address in your communication.

 


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