When we sent Shell home from the Arctic, we promised that it was only the beginning. Now it’s time to stop another reckless, dangerous Shell project: a massive oil train expansion in northeastern Washington.

Oil companies already ship huge quantities of Bakken crude oil through Washington by rail. If the name “Bakken crude” sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s been on your local news: since 2013, ten separate trains hauling crude oil have either derailed, exploded or both [1]. A derailment in Quebec in July of that year led to an explosion that killed 47 people. Not only is Bakken crude the most explosive oil on Earth, but the rail cars in which it’s shipped are so flawed and outdated that the head of the Federal Railroad Administration likened them to a Ford Pinto. [2].

And now Shell wants to expand oil-by-rail operations even further, building a brand-new facility at its existing refinery in Anacortes, WA specifically to receive shipments of Bakken crude, plus adding its own rails to the Burlington Northern line to allow them to cram the facility full of as many train arrivals and departures as possible.

Here’s the thing: we don’t want the oil, we don’t need the oil, and the oil isn’t even for us.

In Skagit County, where the refinery is located, these oil trains pass right through densely populated downtown areas. They also cross two old bridges that span a river, a water treatment plant, and a nature reserve [3]. With Shell’s safety record, this is multiple disasters just waiting to happen. And if the trains make it safely over multiple bodies of water and through two downtowns all the way to the refinery, where does the oil go? Overseas. The U.S.’s decreasing demand for oil means that Shell either exports or goes out of business [4]. I know which result I’d prefer.

We sent Shell home from the Arctic with their tails between their legs. By stopping this expansion, we’ll send them a message loud and clear: no matter where or what the project is, it’s not happening. Shell’s oil days are done.

We are winning, and we will keep winning. Take action against this dangerous project today