FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/21/2015
Councilmember O’Brien to Keynote UW Earth Day Celebration, Unveil New Shell Oil Resolution
SEATTLE – Councilmember Mike O’Brien will keynote the University of Washington’s Earth Day celebration tomorrow, speaking to the importance of environmental activism on Earth Day and every day. O’Brien will also speak to the dangers and consequences of Arctic drilling and unveil a resolution he introduced this week that urges the Port of Seattle to reconsider its Terminal 5 lease and puts the City of Seattle on record in opposing federal permits and leases relating to Arctic drilling.
Councilmember O’Brien will be available after his remarks for further comment.
WHAT:
UW Earth Day Celebration
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day
12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
WHERE:
University of Washington
Red Square
4000 15th Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105
WHO:
Councilmember Mike O’Brien
Public
BACKGROUND:
Recent news reports indicate that at least one of Shell Oil’s Arctic drilling vessels has already arrived at Terminal 5, while another is anchored near Port Angeles for an undisclosed time before heading to Seattle. In addition to O’Brien’s proposed resolution, City Council has also written a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel to urge the federal government to not renew Arctic drilling leases and joined Mayor Murray in calling for the Seattle Department of Planning and Development to review the shoreline permits held by the Port of Seattle for the use of Terminal 5 to determine whether the proposed use by Shell Oil is in compliance.
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