Two Colorado Lawmakers Call on EPA to Review Proposed Oil Transport Facility Expansion in Neighboring Utah
In a move to protect the well-being of both their own constituents and those across state lines, two Colorado lawmakers are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take a closer look at the expansion plans of three oil transport facilities in Utah. The Wildcat Loadout, Price River Terminal, and Savage Energy Terminal are all set to increase their export capacity, raising concerns about potential pollution and environmental hazards.
Representatives Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse, both Democrats from Colorado, penned a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, expressing their concerns and calling for a thorough review of the proposed expansion plans. The lawmakers emphasized the need to ensure that the EPA is upholding its responsibility to protect the health and safety of communities and wildlife.
The Wildcat Loadout, located near Myton, Utah, is seeking to double its daily transport capacity from 35,000 barrels to 70,000 barrels. The Price River Terminal, located near Wellington, Utah, is also planning to increase its export capacity from 70,000 barrels to 350,000 barrels per day. Similarly, the Savage Energy Terminal, situated near Price, Utah, is looking to expand its daily export capacity from 10,000 barrels to 120,000 barrels.
The three facilities, all owned and operated by Canadian-based Salt Lake City-based Savage Companies, are situated in close proximity to the Colorado border. The concern is that the increased transport and storage of crude oil could lead to potential spills or other environmental hazards, which could negatively impact Colorado’s communities and natural resources.
In their letter, DeGette and Neguse note that “Given the proximity of these three facilities to Colorado’s western border, we are concerned that any potential pollution, spills, or other environmental hazards could quickly reach Colorado, causing harm to our constituents and their communities.”
The call for EPA intervention is supported by several environmental groups, including the Wilderness Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council. In a joint statement, the groups state that “given the potential risks and severe consequences of an oil spill or other pollution event, the EPA must thoroughly examine the proposed expansion of these facilities and ensure they comply with all environmental regulations.”
The EPA’s oversight of oil transport facilities is critical, especially considering the recent history of oil spills and accidents in the region. In 2014, a pipeline owned by the same company, Savage Companies, ruptured in Tioga, North Dakota, spilling more than 20,000 barrels of crude oil onto farmland. In 2017, another pipeline owned by the company in San Juan County, New Mexico, leaked approximately 60,000 gallons of crude oil, causing damage to surrounding land and waterways.
The EPA has yet to respond to the lawmakers’ letter, but DeGette and Neguse are committed to ensuring that the agency takes action to protect the public’s health and the environment. They are also calling on the public to get involved and voice their concerns about the proposed expansion of these facilities, particularly those living in close proximity to the Colorado-Utah border.
In light of the increasing demand for oil and gas, it is essential that proper caution and oversight be exercised to prevent any potential harm to local communities and wildlife. The expansion of these oil transport facilities cannot come at the expense of the environment or the safety of those living in the surrounding areas. The EPA must take a thorough look at these proposed expansions and ensure that all necessary precautions are put in place to prevent any potential risks. The health and well-being of our communities and natural resources must be prioritized above all else.
