Methanol: Pause presents a community opportunity

Tacoma’s controversial methanol plant has been shrouded in secrecy, marred by an ill-advised port lease and frustrated by Tacoma’s lead SEPA agency delegation.

Tacoma holds a parochial view of the decision-making process. Public engagement has been poorly managed and caused public outrage. Pausing the environmental impact study process creates opportunity for elected public officials and state regulatory agencies to make things right.

First, restore the integrity of the EIS decision-making process. Let the Port of Tacoma lease expire on April 16, as this agency action should not have preceded EIS completion.

Tacoma should relinquish its lead agency designation. The city has demonstrated a gross disregard for public and adjacent community views. Construction of the world’s largest methanol facility is a regional decision and requires active participation by all regional stakeholders, including voters.

The EIS requires state and federal regulatory agency leadership and impartiality on an issue-driven schedule, not one pre-ordained at 12 months.

The public requires assurances that the proposed methanol plant is not a time bomb, another Asarco or Superfund disaster in the making. The public is not willing to allow environmental degradation or destruction or loss of our quality of life for a few jobs. China must held liable for all plant-related impacts.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Methanol: Pause presents a community opportunity."