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Final Reading and Vote on Interim Regulations
November 12, 2019 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
4pm Rally outside the Market Street Entrance to the Building!
Testimony signup opens around 4:30pm
Council meeting begins at 5pm
On Nov 12, Tacoma City Council will hold a final reading and vote on interim regulations, a temporary reprieve from new fossil fuel development while the City, Puyallup Tribe, Port, Fife and Pierce County work through a multi-year subarea planning process that will result in new, comprehensive land-use laws to govern development in Tacoma’s port and industrial areas.
While these interim regulations are good and likely to be renewed, they have left a huge loophole that allows currently existing heavy industrial uses—including fossil fuels—to expand without restraint. This loophole has already allowed expansion of fossil fuels in our port.
These include SeaPort Sound Terminal (formerly Targa) who expanded into the “natural gasoline” market–a volatile fracking by-product–and are now in the process of doubling their rail throughput potential. US Oil (now owned by Houston-based Par Pacific) has plans to expand crude oil shipping to Hawaii and possibly for export. And even WestRock has obtained permits to build a huge fracked gas boiler which would double their greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists say we only have a matter of years to switch rapidly away from fossil fuels or face dire, irreversible climate consequences, yet fossil fuels continue to expand in our city. This is not acceptable.
At the Sept. 20 youth-led Tacoma Climate Strike, the Mayor and some City Council members heard the demands of young people to take urgent action to address the climate crisis: 1) declare a climate emergency, 2) stop fossil fuel expansion, 3) update the city’s environmental action plan, and 4) center justice in these actions.
On Nov. 12, the City Council can show how seriously they take these demands by voting to renew and strengthen interim regulations. But they need to hear from you to be convinced. Here’s how you can help:
1) Come to the hearing prepared to speak for 2 minutes or just show your support
2) Sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/interim-regs-nov19
3) Call and email Tacoma City Council Members before this meeting to tell them to take real action by renewing AND STRENGTHENING interim regulations.