Eugene’s Trainsong neighborhood has been proposed as the future home to a USD Clean Fuels transloading facility on Bethel Drive, with planners saying about 40 trucks per day would move biofuels from railcars and take them to market. Some neighbors have opposed the project, prompting the City of Eugene to withdraw the proposed facility’s zone verification, which determines if proposed uses are allowable on certain types of zoned properties.
Eugene withdraws approval for a new fuel-transfer facility in Trainsong
The City of Eugene has pulled its approval for a proposed fuel transfer facility in the Trainsong neighborhood. City staff will now reconsider the application. At the Eugene Clean Fuels Facility, workers would load biofuels from railcars onto an estimated 40 trucks per day. The site would be on railroad property off of Bethel Drive. City staff initially approved the project's zone verification application in June. But neighbors later pushed back, citing concerns about the potential for noise and a fuel spill at the site. Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis also said she was worried about the proposal.
Proposed Eugene fuel transfer facility faces backlash from local group
An energy company wants to transfer fuel from trains to trucks in Eugene’s Trainsong neighborhood. But some community members there are concerned about the risk of an environmental disaster. Now, the local watchdog group Beyond Toxics says it plans to challenge the project. Lisa Arkin, the Executive Director of Beyond Toxics, told neighbors these biofuels would create a major safety risk if they spilled or ignited.
Beyond Toxics challenges a proposed fuel-transfer facility in West Eugene
An energy company wants to transfer fuel from trains to trucks in Eugene’s Trainsong neighborhood. But some community members there are concerned about the risk of an environmental disaster. Now, the local watchdog group Beyond Toxics says it plans to challenge the project.
Residents near proposed Eugene fuel site express spill fears at public forum
A proposed facility to move renewable fuels is creating controversy and is at the heart of a community meeting that happened on Monday night. Beyond Toxics and members of the local Bethel community hosted a meetingon October 7, 2024, saying they are scared about potential health hazards from having a fuel transloading site in the neighborhood, with the concern being fuel spills as the site is located right across from homes and a park.
Bethel community groups hold meeting about proposed fuels facility
Dozens of people in Eugene’s Trainsong, Bethel, and River Road communities packed into a community meeting on Monday night to discuss concerns over a proposed biofuel transfer station in the Trainsong area. A proposed facility in the Trainsong neighborhood that would be located adjacent to Bethel Drive would be run by USD Clean Fuels, a Texas-based fuels company. If construction on the facility proceeds, it is expected to come online by late 2025.
Oregon DEQ sues J.H. Baxter, related companies for repair costs at shuttered facility
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has filed a lawsuit against J.H. Baxter and three Oregon-based companies in September demanding an amount that will likely eventually total more than $3 million in damages. J.H. Baxter & Co. is a California-based company that operated a wood and lumber treatment facility in west Eugene.
English
Spanish