Take Action for a Gas Station Moratorium

Gas Station at night

Take Action

Sample Testimony

Sign our petition

The Eugene City Council and Mayor are currently considering a land use policy that would ban the construction of new gas stations. We ask that the council schedule a work session as soon nas possible, and that they make a motion to pass the policy. 

We need your help to protect public health and our environment! Eugene City Councilors needs to hear from you now! Use our testimony guide below to make your voice heard.

 


Gas Station Moratorium Testimony Guide
 

What is the purpose of banning construction of new gas stations?

 

Changing Economy

  • Oregon, California, and major automakers have all agreed to halt any sale of new gasoline cars in the year 2035. Accordingly, the Eugene and Water Electric Board predicts that 64-80% of cars on Eugene’s roads will be electric in less than 12 years.

  • The Boston Consulting Group predicts that 80% of gas stations will be unprofitable in 2035. While many argue it’s best to allow market forces to regulate gas stations, local governments must plan ahead to prevent the proliferation of unprofitable abandoned gas stations. A ban on new gas station construction is needed.

  • The city currently has 56 gas stations in the Urban Growth Boundary, and everyone can access one or more of them in a five minute drive.

  • It’s time to turn off the tap, and not allow fossil fuel developers to sacrifice public health in an effort to make a quick buck.

Protect Public Health

  • Gas stations emit toxic vapors through the evaporation of petroleum stored in underground tanks.

  • People at or near gas stations can inhale vapors escaping from the underground tanks during the refueling process, from the vents that are constantly releasing fumes into the air, and when pumping gas into your car and any petroleum is accidentally dripped onto the ground.

  • Vapors including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (known as BTEX) are hazardous air pollutants known to cause asthma, birth defects, decrease cardiovascular function, attack the immune system, and even cause cancer.

  • Studies have repeatedly found higher rates of childhood leukemia in homes next to gas stations compared to homes farther away.

Preventing Environmental Contamination

  • Gas stations leak petroleum into the surrounding air, water, and soil. The worst case scenario occurs when one or more underground petroleum storage tanks leaks.

  • Often leaks aren’t discovered until the tank is removed after a gas station closes, or in the case of severe leaks, contaminants are found in nearby properties.

  • There have been 303 leaks from petroleum tanks in Eugene since 1987, and 114 of those are still not cleaned up.

  • Leaks contaminate ground and surface water, soil, and air. Leaking petroleum damages nearby properties resulting in lowered residential and commercial property values.

  • Cleanup and remediation costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, and are often left incomplete to save money. This is costly and dangerous for future property owners.

Other Talking Points

  • Gas stations are already banned in certain parts of the city such as the University District east of the University of Oregon.

  • Eugene has far more gas stations per person than Springfield.

  • City permitting for gas stations does not take public health impacts of petroleum storage and distribution to nearby residents into account.

  • Other cities in the United States have already implemented gas station bans.

  • Gas stations pose an explosion and fire risk. Downtown Monmouth, OR, narrowly avoided a catastrophic explosion and fire as a result of a leaking gas station.

 
Take Action
 

 
Send messages to the Eugene City Council

SUBJECT: Gas Station Moratorium

Written testimony can be submitted to City Council by sending an email to: mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov

Sample Message

Dear Mayor Vinis and Eugene City Councilors,

As someone passionate about public health and climate change, I encourage the city council to support the ban on construction of new gas stations. Gas stations emit toxic vapors through the evaporation of petroleum stored in underground tanks. Vapors including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene are hazardous air pollutants known to cause asthma, birth defects, decrease cardiovascular function, attack the immune system, and even cause cancer. Studies have repeatedly found higher rates of childhood leukemia in homes next to gas stations compared to homes farther away.

The city currently has 56 gas stations in the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), and everyone can access one or more of them in a five minute drive. Oregon, California, and major automakers have all agreed to halt any sale of new gasoline cars in the year 2035. Accordingly, the Eugene and Water Electric Board predicts that 64-80% of cars on Eugene’s roads will be electric in less than 12 years. The Boston Consulting Group shows that 80% of gas stations will be unprofitable in 2035. While many argue it’s best to allow market forces to regulate gas stations, local governments must plan ahead to prevent the proliferation of unprofitable abandoned gas stations. A ban on new gas station construction is needed.

Gas stations also leak petroleum into the surrounding air, water, and soil. The worst case scenario occurs when one or more underground petroleum storage tanks leaks. Often leaks aren’t discovered until the tank is removed after a gas station closes, or in the case of severe leaks, contaminants are found in nearby properties.

In Eugene, 303 leaks from petroleum tanks have been reported by the DEQ since 1987, and 114 of those are still not cleaned up. Leaks contaminate ground and surface water, soil, and air. Leaking petroleum damages nearby properties may result in lowered residential and commercial property values. Clean-up and remediation cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and are often left incomplete to save money. This is costly and dangerous for future property owners.

Some neighborhoods in Eugene benefit from an overlay zone prohibiting gas stations. This includes the East Campus Overlay, Nodal development overlays, Downtown Riverfront, Broadway overlay and more. Entire cities in the United States have already implemented a ban on construction of new gas stations, and more are planning to do so.

It’s time to extend these same common sense public health policies to the whole city of Eugene! Please hold a work session on this urgent topic at the earliest possible date.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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