Dear Safe Shippers,    Thanks to your letters and support, the Salish Sea and our orcas received some good news this month! Two major projects that could negatively impact the health of our region and its inhabitants were prevented from moving forward. The projects’ proponents are not giving up yet, but it is heartening to […]

Dear Safe Shippers,Oil spills can happen in our Salish Sea!Thanks to Safe Shippers comments, the state legislature passed a bill to strengthen oil spill safety regulations. As a result, the Oil Spill Contingency Plan is being updated. We don’t think this drafted plan goes far enough to protect what we love, but we can still have a say. […]

Dear Safe Shippers, What happens on the Columbia River, happens to the Salish Sea. Almost 300 miles apart, we are connected by salmon and the orcas that migrate to feed on them. More than ever, the Columbia River needs our help. As Safe Shippers guard the Salish Sea, our Columbia Riverkeeper friends guard the river. They have sounded […]

Dear Safe Shippers, Our 5-year fight against the Trans Mountain pipeline and oil tanker project persists! From day one, we have joined our Salish Sea neighbors, on both sides of the border, to reject­ this destructive project for so many reasons – globally, for its contribution to climate devastation, and locally, for its inherent threats to our orca waters. Now we have another opportunity […]

Dear Safe Shippers,We have an opportunity to take direct action in support of Southern Resident orcas! Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery (Phillips 66) wants to construct a new 300,000 barrel crude oil storage tank and a new 80,000 barrel fuel oil storage tank, just a short orca swim across the Salish Sea from our islands. These new storage tanks would provide flexibility […]

Dear Safe Shippers,You may have heard the disappointing news by now: earlier this week, Canada gave a second green light to their Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project. This project will increase tanker traffic in our island waters from approximately 1 per week to 1 per day. Since 2014, we have joined forces with entities and individuals on both sides of the border […]

To Safe Shippers who vote in San Juan County:“Where can I sign the petition to put the Orca Protection Initiative on the ballot?” Thank you for asking! For those who wish to sign, the petition will be available outside the Friday Harbor Farmer’s Market near Sunshine Alley every Saturday from 9:30am until 1:00pm – from now until the deadline […]

YOU ARE INVITED TO A COMMUNITY MEETING: “THE THREAT OF A LARGE OIL SPILL – AT WHAT COST TO SAN JUAN COUNTY?”Wednesday, May 8, 201911:00am – 1:00pmSan Juan Island Grange Hall, 152 First Street, Friday HarborWhat would a large oil spill cost all of us?  How long would it affect our communities, property values, businesses, and way of life?San Juan County’s Environmental Resources […]

You did it, Safe Shippers! All four Orca Emergency Response Bills have passed out of the Washington State House and Senate! Thank you for your time and efforts to contact our representatives – they heard you ask for better protection of our Salish Sea. Here’s the scoreboard for these bills – all addressing the protection […]