EUGENE, Ore., October 1, 2024 – Residents in the west Eugene neighborhood of Trainsong learned about a fuel transfer facility coming to their neighborhood in late 2025 and recently brought it to the attention of Beyond Toxics. On Sept. 30, Beyond Toxics, working with Crag Law Center, filed a notice of intent to appeal the city’s zone verification of the site.

Highly flammable ethanol, renewable diesel, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel will be delivered to the Eugene railyard by train, then transloaded to tanker trucks for distribution. The truck route will be on Bethel Drive, alongside school bus stops and families’ front yards.

The private, Houston-based company, USD Clean Fuels, has stated that the transfer station will result in 40 one-way tanker truck trips daily, primarily during the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Neighbors are concerned about environmental health and safety impacts.

“There are a lot of noise concerns,” said community member Dharmika Henschel. “Extra trains, braking and train cars banging into each other... We’d like to sleep. But it’s not just the noise. We have the potential for air, land, and water pollution, and explosions.”

Henschel, Beyond Toxics and other community members testified at city council on Monday, Sept. 23, asking councilors to commit to implementing Public Health Development Standards to prevent further heavy industrial facilities, like J.H. Baxter, that could lead to pollution burdens in these neighborhoods.

Active Bethel Community and Beyond Toxics will host a community forum on Monday, Oct. 7 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lions of Judah Christian Center (2600 Wood Ave., Eugene) to address the issue. Mayor Lucy Vinis and City Councilor Lyndsie Leech will be on hand to hear concerns and answer questions. More information is at beyondtoxics.org.