Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Reject Shell’s oil project

I’m disappointed to learn that the City Council backed down on the ballot measure to make shipping oil and coal through downtown Spokane a civil infraction. These trains are proven not to be safe. Now, Shell wants to add a rail spur to its refinery in Anacortes that would bring six more oil trains per week through Spokane, Seattle and other communities.

Even if the City Council won’t act, people can still do something to reduce oil traffic through the city. In November, there will be public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement for Shell’s project. Submit a comment to the Department of Ecology online, or attend the hearing in Seattle. Tell Skagit County and the Department of Ecology that the safety and health of citizens come before business interests.

Ericka Berg

Seattle

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy