Methanol: Study impact of predicted megaquake

The proposed methanol plant discussions have missed a key point.

Scientists concur that we have a one in three chance of a massive earthquake to hit this area in the next 50 years. This quake would be as large as the 9.0 Tohuku quake in Japan in 2011. The New Yorker article by Kathryn Schulz (July 20, 2015), “The Earthquake that will Devastate the Pacific Northwest,” catalogued what we can expect: Everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.

Other state resources, such as the DNR earthquake hazard site and the “2012 Resilient Washington State Report” support the scientific findings of severe shaking, soil liquefaction and tsunami inundation for the area of the proposed construction site.

I urge that all the public decision-making bodies involved take this information into account for the good of the public. We simply cannot afford to ignore the important geologic facts so carefully gathered at taxpayer expense when deciding for or against the siting of this methanol plant.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Methanol: Study impact of predicted megaquake."