It has been a little more than a year since the train explosion and fire that rocked Mosier, Ore. on Saturday, June 3.

Firefighters battled for 14 hours to contain a dangerous fire from a derailed Union Pacific train carrying highly flammable Bakken crude oil. Students at the Mosier Community School and some residents were evacuated, oil spread in a sheen on the Columbia River, and the community of Mosier lost sewer and water service for days.

One year later, Mosier’s groundwater is still contaminated, and oil and railroad companies are seeking to expand oil and coal train traffic through the Columbia River Gorge, despite opposition from Columbia River Tribes, the town of Mosier and many larger cities along the potential route.

Rallies were held in Sandpoint, Spokane and Mosier for this weekend, more info is at www.WildIdahoRisingTide.org

In coming months, Washington’s Gov. Inslee will make a final decision about whether to deny the Tesoro Savage oil train terminal in Vancouver, a project that would bring up to five loaded oil trains each day through the Columbia River Gorge. Mosier’s experience should be all the evidence that Gov. Inslee needs to deny the oil train terminal.

This should also be a reminder about why the people of Grays Harbor fought so hard against the terminals here. The danger of transporting Bakken crude by ship or by train is too great a risk. Both Contanda and REG are looking to move in a different direction. The City of Hoquiam should deny the crude oil terminal permits now.

Tammy Domike

Citizens for a Clean Harbor