It’s Orca Action Month and your action is needed to help protect the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales from additional underwater noise, disturbance, and an increased risk of ship strikes and oil spills.
Canada is fast-tracking a new pipeline from Alberta to the west coast to export an additional 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of tar sands crude oil via oil tankers. The new pipeline would terminate in northern British Columbia or at Roberts Bank, situated within the Port of Vancouver, in the Salish Sea.
This project, in addition to the further expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline from 890,000 to 1.19 million bpd, dramatically increases the chances of a major tar sands crude oil spill in the Salish Sea, putting endangered species, Treaty-protected resources, and coastal communities and economies in Washington State at risk.
A major tar sands crude oil spill from these project expansions would be catastrophic.
Please act now and ask Washington State and Congressional representatives to oppose the proposed pipeline’s route to the Salish Sea and to urge Canada to retain endangered species protections in the permitting of major projects. The new pipeline route is expected to be announced by July 1, 2026, so please reach out to your elected officials today!
It will only take a couple of minutes, and we’ve provided a suggested email to send to elected officials through the link below. Your comments will be even more effective if you include your own unique concerns and insights.
If you have time, please also reach out to Senator Murray and Governor Ferguson and ask them to do all they can to convince Canada to 1) not route the new 1 million barrel per day pipeline to Roberts Bank which would increase oil tanker traffic and the risk of accidents and oil spills in the Salish Sea, and 2) uphold protections for endangered species when permitting major projects.
Senator Murray’s D.C. Office: (202) 224-2621 (Toll Free: (866) 481-9186)
Senator Murray’s Everett Office: (425) 259-6515
Send Senator Murray an e-message
Governor Ferguson’s Office: 360-902-4111 (TTY/TDD call 711 or 1-800-833-6384)
Send Governor Ferguson an e-message
Your voice is needed! If you don’t have time to make phone calls, please take just two minutes to Take Action Now!
Why this Matters
A major spill would cause economic, cultural, and ecological losses that would extend across generations. Marine species from shellfish to salmon to orcas would face population-level impacts. This new pipeline proposal ignores the cumulative risks to Washington State waters and U.S. Treaty obligations.
Take Action
Sign up for Friends’ action alerts to stay informed about opportunities to participate and make your voice heard.
Learn More
- Friends of the San Juans’ Webpage on Surging Canadian Crude Oil Exports
- Friends of the San Juans’ Comment Letter on upholding protections for endangered species in Canada
- Canada’s Proposed Permitting Reforms to Expedite Major ProjectsCanada’s Push for a New Crude Oil Pipeline