Residents of Eugene’s Trainsong neighborhood gathered Monday evening to voice their opposition to a proposed renewable fuel transloading facility, fearing it could exacerbate environmental and health issues in a community already grappling with pollution.
Monday’s community meeting conjured images of potential fuel spills and noise pollution, and the conversation harkened back to the Feb. 2023 Ohio train derailment , which prompted evacuations after toxins were released into the environment.
Nearly 100 people attended the community meeting Monday ev ening at the Lion of Judah Christian Church to learn more about the project and its potential impacts.
The event, hosted Monday at the Lion of Judah Christian Church by the nonprofit Beyond Toxics and the Active Bethel Community, provided an opportunity for community members to share their concerns, ask questions and discuss this proposed project with their elected officials, such as Ward 7 City Councilor Lyndsie Leech and Mayor Lucy Vinis. Other panelists who packed into the small worship space included Lisa Arkin, executive director of Beyond Toxics; Zach Mulholland, who contracts with Beyond Toxics; and Dharmika Henschel, a Trainsong resident. Arjorie Arberry-Baribeault, the west Eugene community organizer for Beyond Toxics, moderated the discussion.