What are the health and safety impacts of the CEI Hub?

  • Hundreds of toxics are already present and contaminate the air, water, and soil.

  • Chemical releases are both ongoing and accidental.

  • Research reveals harmful effects on every body system.

  • Oregon's regulation of emissions is inadequate.

hazardous industrial chemicals
stored on-site or near the CEI Hub:

From Hazardous Substance Information System

(Oregon State Fire Marshal)

90 % of Oregon’s fuel passes through the Hub.

Toxic emissions are underestimated by tank farm operators who report to DEQ using a formula developed with input from the oil industry. This means it is inherently biased toward oil company profits rather than public health and safety.

Linnton Neighborhood Association is advocating for more accurate air quality assessment methods.

300 million gallons of volatile explosives and flammable liquids are held in outdated tanks.

The CEI Hub

What could happen here? We’re just an earthquake or other disaster away from total devastation.

Our number-one concern is the threat that we face living and working in or near Linnton, where the vast majority of Oregon’s fuel resides. Tank the Tanks wants Oregonians to be aware of the very real dangers that we and all life along the Willamette River are facing.

Earthquakes aren’t the only danger with storing 300 million gallons of fuel on highly unstable soil near neighborhoods, railroad lines, a major highway, a fault line, and the Willamette River. In addition to natural disasters like floods or lightning strikes, fuel tank catastrophes occur worldwide due to human error and equipment failure.

Many HAZMAT facilities are located in or near the CEI Hub.

Because of this, the Lower Willamette and Columbia rivers could be destroyed for generations.

  • "…Any spill or explosion at the CEI Hub would be a serious threat to workers, firefighters and other first responders, frontline communities, fish and other natural resources. It has been characterized as a disaster on the order of Fukushima and Deepwater Horizon combined. We cannot afford to ignore this problem any longer."

    Michael Dembrow
    Former State Senator

  • "Tank failure at the Hub would be currently an unmitigated disaster... a looming catastrophe that would result in devastating loss of life and the rippling devastation that would unfold in the months and years and even decades to come . . what would start as potential rupture or collapse and fuel spillage would almost certainly rapidly ignite into a toxic fireball and flame front that would eviscerate anything and everyone in its path."

    Dacia Grayber
    State Representative, Metro area firefighter

  • “The CEI Hub is a major threat to safety, environment, and recovery after a CSZ (Cascadia Subduction Zone) earthquake on par with the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan.”

    OSSPAC (Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission)

If a quake strikes,

Tanks will ignite.

Fires will likely spread to Forest Park and across the river to North Portland and Sauvie Island.

Because of our rivers’ tides, life-killing toxins will travel upstream as well as downstream.

Bridges and roads will collapse.

After a major incident, there will be no fuel for firefighters, rescue workers, or hospitals.

There will be limited aviation fuel for planes to come and go.

Lifeline infrastructure (water, energy, roads) will be damaged.

PREDICTED INJURIES & DEATHS IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY

9.0 Cascadia earthquake:

  • Daytime quake: 11,400-16,700 people injured and killed

  • Nighttime quake: 2,800-5,600 people injured and killed

6.8 Portland Hills Fault quake:

  • Daytime quake: 28,900-36,300 people injured and killed

  • Nighttime quake: 9,300 -15,300 people injured and killed

HAZMAT releases:

  • Summer release from 4 facilities at/near the Hub: 2763 deaths, 17,766 injuries

  • Winter release from 4 facilities at/near the Hub: 1257 deaths, 19,652 injuries

PREDICTED CONSEQUENCES

In any disaster:

  • Habitat and natural resource damages - some decades-long or permanent

  • Destruction of real or personal property

  • Loss of subsistence use including tribal, navigation, fisheries

  • Clean-up costs largely paid by taxpayers

  • Increased fuel prices paid by consumers

  • Human health costs

Many HAZMAT facilities are located in or near the CEI Hub

Seismic shaking will release hazardous materials from containers throughout Multnomah County. Gaseous chemicals that create toxic vapor clouds or plumes pose the highest safety risk. Thousands could die from toxic inhalation, with tens of thousands injured. Plumes will challenge evacuation and shelter-in-place for residents seeking protection.

Risk of Earthquake-Induced Hazardous Material Releases in Multnomah County

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