Lummi Nation opposes BP's oil plans for Cherry Point

December 27, 2023 / 5:10 pm

caption: Cherry Point, near Ferndale, Washington, is home to multiple industrial operations, such as the Phillips 66 oil refinery, the Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelter, and BP's Cherry Point oil refinery which is the largest refinery in the Northwest. The highlighted area is a rough approximation of where BP aims to purchase property and potentially expand operations. The Lummi Nation calls this area "Xwe’chi’eXen," and considers it a heritage/cemetery site where many members have been buried in the past.

The Lummi Nation is voicing its opposition to British Petroleum's goal of expanding oil operations at Cherry Point, near Ferndale, Washington, north of Bellingham.

The Lummi call this area "Xwe’chi’eXen," consider it a cultural and archaeological site where many of its ancestors lay, and have a track record of pushing back against industrial activity and development of Cherry Point. The tribe also argues that BP's industrial operations would interfere with its fishing rights.

"For thousands of years, and continuing to this day, our people have lived here, fished here, gathered plants here, raised families here, and buried loved ones here,” Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire said in a statement. “The connection the Lummi Nation has to this place is beyond archeological significance. We have a sacred obligation to protect our lands and our ancestors, the ancient ones who rest here. We also have a moral and legal obligation to protect our rights. We have opposed, and will continue to oppose, the development of Xwe’chi’eXen because of the unavoidable and unacceptable impacts it would have on our people and on our treaty fishing rights.”

A BP spokesperson told KUOW that the company notified the Lummi Tribe about the land purchase on Dec. 13. The sale was completed on Dec. 22. BP said that the total price tag is confidential, however, a public tax document states that the total price for all parcels was $49.9 million.

Cherry Point is already home to a handful of industrial operations, mixed between vacant, undeveloped land, and small housing developments.

BP currently operates its Cherry Point Refinery there, the largest refinery in the Northwest. The Olympic Pipeline runs alongside it, leading down to a docking facility for ships. BP also owns the land to its east, which leads down to the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve along the shoreline. The land BP has acquired is located to the refinery's south, and includes additional shoreline property.

BP says this new property will be used as a "buffer area" for its existing refinery operations, similar to the vacant land it owns east of its Cherry Point facility. A spokesperson also said the acquisition is also intended to, "Increase the opportunity, as appropriate, for future environmental restoration and wetlands mitigation."

The company also wants to expand access to Gulf Road which is used to off-load large equipment and construction materials.

And finally, BP bought the land to, "provide options for possible future projects at the refinery, pending approvals."

Also on Cherry Point, Phillips 66 operates its Ferndale oil refinery. The Lummi Nation further says it opposes the company's plans for a renewable diesel refinery. Phillips 66 previously pursued a renewable diesel refinery at Cherry Point, which aimed to recycle waste oils and fats into fuel. It abandoned that project in 2020.

Alcoa's Intalco site is also located at Cherry Point. It has produced aluminum, with an annual capacity of 279,000 metric tons. Alcoa is in the process of closing down this location, however, and has an agreement with AltaGas — a Canadian natural gas company — to take over 1,600 acres of the site.

KUOW has reached out to the Lummi Nation for comment. This post will be updated with any responses.

This post was originally published on Dec. 27, 2023. It was updated on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29, 2023 with comments from a BP spokesperson and the price for the property sale.