Friends of the San Juans has long been a vigilant protector of the Salish Sea, with a steady focus on safeguarding the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. This spring and summer, we entered important talks with Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery about their project to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Their original plan involved up to 61 new round trips of oil tankers or barges each year to transport Synthetic Blend Component (SBC) from California, circumnavigating the San Juan Islands en route to the refinery. (SBC is a product that is blended with jet fuel to produce SAF.)
Phillips 66 approached Friends of the San Juans to discuss their proposed project. Through multiple in-person meetings and problem-solving, we successfully negotiated a key change to their plan that better safeguards Southern Resident killer whales. Instead of increasing vessel traffic, Phillips 66 agreed to backhaul, using existing vessel traffic that travels unloaded in one direction (and will now instead be loaded in both directions). The backhaul requirement will avoid additional vessel traffic and the associated increased risks and impacts to Southern Residents, their critical habitat, and the Salish Sea ecosystem. These discussions highlight our ongoing commitment to protect the Salish Sea and its endangered species. When possible, we remain open to further negotiation and collaboration with industry to ensure the continued safety and protection of these found nowhere else on Earth.
