01/21/2020 UPDATE:

Phillips 66 and Renewable Energy Group (REG) notified the Department of Ecology and Whatcom County on Tuesday, Jan. 21, that are cancelling the Green Apple Renewable Fuels Facility project. As a result, Ecology and Whatcom County have ended the environmental review process for the proposed facility. This includes cancelling the Notice of Application comment period and public meetings that were scheduled for early February.

Green Apple Renewable Fuels, LLC is proposing to build a renewable fuels facility which will be co-located with the Phillips 66 Refinery in Ferndale, WA. The proposed plant will occur on approximately 40 acres of developed and undeveloped land within the Phillips 66 property and would include the following:

• Renewable fuel production facility,

• On-site hydrogen plant, adjacent to the renewable diesel production facility,

• Additions and modifications to the Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery’s existing rail and truck facilities to support handling of animal fats, cooking and vegetable oils, and grease and renewable product logistics,

• Storage tanks for the fats, oils, grease, and renewable product,

• Internal pipelines or tie-ins between existing pipelines to carry feedstock and production materials (renewable diesel, renewable propane, renewable jet fuel, and renewable naphtha),

• Whatcom County Public Utility District No. 1 electrical substation upgrades, and

• Cascade Natural Gas pipeline upgrade to natural gas supply (approximately seven miles of new pipeline co-located with current pipeline).

The plant could produce about 250 million gallons of renewable fuel products per year, including renewable diesel, with minor products of renewable naphtha and renewable propane. It would use existing ship, rail, and truck facilities at Phillips 66 to receive feedstock and ship out the finished product.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Whatcom County (co-leads) are issuing a Determination of Significance and Scoping Notice as well as the Major Project Permit Notice of Application for the proposed Green Apple Renewable Fuels Facility at Cherry Point in Ferndale, WA. The co-leads will consider feedback received during this period to determine the scope of environmental review. Comments may also be submitted regarding the Whatcom County Notice of Application.

The co-leads are holding a public comment period from Jan 16 – Feb 18, 2020 in order to get community, tribal and stakeholder input on:

The scope of the EIS. The co-leads are looking for comments about what should be studied, what methods should be used, and what mitigation should be considered. Review SEPA and project documents here. Comments for the EIS scoping or Notice of Application for the Whatcom County major project permit can be submitted via online or via mail at Green Apple EIS, 3190 160th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98008. The public can review project information and submit comments on the scope of the EIS and the Notice of Application online, or in person at one of three public meetings. 

Tuesday, Feb. 4 (6-8 pm)

Anacortes High School Commons

1600 20th St., Anacortes

Wednesday, Feb. 5 (6-8 pm)

Whatcom Community College - Syre Auditorium

235 W Kellogg Rd., Bellingham

Thursday, Feb 6 (6-8 pm)

Ferndale Events Center

5715 Barrett Rd, Ferndale

The notice of application (NOA) for the Whatcom County major project permit. Permit decisions won’t be made until after the EIS is completed but comments will be accepted on the application. Review master project permit documents below: