Two new gas plants will join a host of other oil and gas infrastructure in the Tacoma Tideflats. The question is how much risk is the area taking on, and is it worth it?
Steve Dunkelberger reports on the fall out from two recently approved plans for liquefied natural gas facilities in the Tacoma Tideflats in Washington. "The neighboring gas plants, the current oil refineries as well as the rise of oil train traffic through the area are raising concerns about the potential of a environmental disaster so close to urban areas," according to Dunkelberger.
Eric de Place, policy director of the environmental policy think tank Sightline Institute, is quoted extensively in the article, arguing for a greater levels of oversight and risk assessment. Both are particularly pertinent in this case, explains de Place, since the city of Tacoma owns Tacoma Rail, which could make taxpayers liable for the cleanup of any gas or oil disasters linked to oil trains.
The remainder of the article provides a lot of data and opinions that inform a cost-benefit analysis on the new gas infrastructure going into place in Tacoma.
FULL STORY: Planned gas plants raise concerns about safety of tideflats
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