CHERRY POINT, Wash. – A small environmental group from the San Juan Islands has scored a legal victory over a local refinery that it says will help protect endangered orcas.
Lovel Pratt with Friends of the San Juans says they jumped into action in 2019 when the Phillips 66 refinery made an application to Whatcom County to build two new storage tanks at Cherry Point.
“In reviewing the application, we didn’t see them acknowledge any addition vessel traffic for this increased capacity for storage at the refinery,” said Pratt.
A hearing examiner agreed with the group’s claim and a Whatcom Superior Court judge upheld the examiner’s decision that tanker traffic must be considered.
Phillips 66 appealed that ruling but the Washington Court of Appeals sided with the environmental group.
Pratt says its a big win in the effort to protect southern resident orcas.
“Vessel traffic plays a major role in impacting their ability to communicate, to echo locate, and find those scarce salmon that are out there,” said Pratt.
The decision doesn’t prevent Phillips 66 from going ahead with the expansion but would require monitoring of tanker traffic and an additional review if it exceeds historical numbers.
We reached out to Phillips 66 but the company says it won’t comment on active litigation.
To listen to the full interview with Pratt, visit our Podcast page.