October 1, 2024

Eugene Neighbors say no to fuel trucks

Crag files lawsuit against City of Eugene over planned fuel transfer truck site in West Eugene neighborhood

Train on railroad - Photo by Jim Allen, FreightWaves

Photo by Jim Allen, FreightWaves.

New case! On September 30, Crag filed a notice of intent to appeal the City of Eugene’s decision to pave the way for a proposed biofuel transfer station in West Eugene. We filed the lawsuit on behalf of our longtime clients Beyond Toxics, a Eugene-based environmental justice organization.

Residents in the west Eugene neighborhood of Trainsong learned about a fuel transfer facility coming to their neighborhood in late 2025 and recently brought it to the attention of Beyond Toxics. Highly flammable ethanol, renewable diesel, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel will be delivered to the Eugene railyard by train, then transloaded to tanker trucks for distribution. The truck route will be on Bethel Drive, alongside school bus stops and families’ front yards.

The private, Houston-based company, USD Clean Fuels, has stated that the transfer station will result in 40 one-way tanker truck trips daily, primarily during the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Neighbors are concerned about environmental health and safety impacts.

Sign of Trainsong Park in Eugene. Photo by Engage Eugene

“There are a lot of noise concerns. Extra trains, braking and train cars banging into each other… We’d like to sleep. But it’s not just the noise. We have the potential for air, land, and water pollution, and explosions.”

– Dharmika Henschel, Eugene community member

Henschel, Beyond Toxics and other community members testified at city council on Monday, Sept. 23, asking councilors to commit to implementing Public Health Development Standards to prevent further heavy industrial facilities, like J.H. Baxter, that could lead to pollution burdens in these neighborhoods.

Next Steps

Active Bethel Community and Beyond Toxics will host a community forum on Monday, Oct. 7 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lions of Judah Christian Center (2600 Wood Ave., Eugene) to address the issue. Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis and City Councilor Lyndsie Leech will be on hand to hear concerns and answer questions.

Learn more at beyondtoxics.org.