"a bi-monthly journal of environmental news and commentary..."

Petition Urges Port to End Shipments of Proppants

Olympia activist Robert Whitlock has created a petition addressed to the Port of Olympia Commission to stop engaging in the fracking industry. The movement of ceramic proppants, used in hydraulic fracturing of natural gas, through the Port's marine terminal has met resistance from people working to move beyond fossil fuels.

The Port has also been under criticism for its finances and has welcomed this lucrative cargo as a solution to easing its reliance on the tax base. If the Port were to honor this petition and cease these shipments, the hope would be for them to pursue more environmentally responsible cargo.

Whitlock created the petition as part of MoveOn.org's #FrackingFighters campaign. He says, "fracking is an extreme method for extraction. It is dangerous, destructive, risky, and creates access to greater deposits of petroleum than cannot be safely consumed at present rates of consumption."

The petition has received 900 signatures as of this publication. To sign the petition visit: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/port-of-olympia-stop

---- Port of Olympia: We need you to stop supporting the hydraulic fracturing industry. Stop taking shipments of proppants and other product or material that relates to the hydro-fracking industry.

Petition Background

Port of Olympia has been taking shipments of a material called "proppants." These materials are used in the fracking industry of North Dakota (Bakken) oil shale. The hydro-fracking industry of North Dakota is implicated in harms: social destabilization, and serious environmental pollution has occurred. Economic gains, jobs and domestic petroleum production have resulted in a boom that will eventually end in a bust. Support for the hydraulic-fracking extreme extraction industry conflicts with building a level playing field for renewable energy to compete. For the good of all people, we need urgent transition away from fossil fuels. For health, we need sensible policies. We believe the Port of Olympia can do better than to engage in the fracking business.


Back to Home page.


Copyright © 2024 - All Rights Reserved
Updated 2015/01/07 21:14:22