Zenith Energy Terminal Holdings, LLC is a fuel products transloading facility. The company accepts crude oil, diesel, renewable fuels and other fuel products from one mode of transportation, like railcars, and passes them along to another, such as marine vessels. In the interim, fuel products are stored at the facility in above-ground tanks. Zenith Energy is located at 5501 NW Front Avenue in northwest Portland.
Air quality
Current status: Following the City's approval of Zenith's land use compatibility statement, DEQ is reviewing Zenith's
air quality permit application. DEQ will have a public process to discuss the air quality permit in 2024.
Note: DEQ cannot overturn a land use compatibility statement. That would either have to happen at the City of Portland or through the Land Use Board of Appeals. See the FAQs below for more information.
To stay up to date on the permitting process, check this webpage or
subscribe to DEQ's emails through GovDelivery by checking the box under the "Permits" heading called "Air quality permits".
2021
January: DEQ requests a new LUCS from Zenith.
August: City of Portland denies Zenith's application for a land use compatibility statement.
August: Zenith appeals the City of Portland's decision to the Land Use Board of Appeals.
September: DEQ denies Zenith's air quality permit because of the City's denial of the land use compatibility statement.
October: Zenith appeals DEQ's denial of Zenith's air quality permit.
2022
February: Land Use Board of Appeals rules that the City has the authority to deny the LUCS.
February: Zenith appeals the Land Use Board of Appeals decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals.
May: The Oregon Court of Appeals affirms the Land Use Board of Appeals ruling that the City has the authority to deny the LUCS.
June: Zenith appeals the Oregon Court of Appeals decision to the Oregon Supreme Court.
October: City approves Zenith's updated land use compatibility statement.
October: Zenith sends DEQ amended Title V air quality permit application.
November: DEQ receives a copy of Zenith's air quality permit application.
Frequently asked questions
DEQ does not have the authority to make land use decisions. DEQ asked Zenith for a new land use compatibility statement, or LUCS, from the City of Portland in January 2021, because the activities Zenith proposed in its air quality permit renewal application did not match the existing LUCS.
When the City denied Zenith's LUCS, DEQ also denied Zenith's permit application. Zenith appealed the City's land use decision to the Land Use Board of Appeals. While the decision was under appeal, Zenith proposed a new LUCS and the City approved it. Zenith submitted a new air quality permit application to DEQ with the approved LUCS.
Any reversal or appeal of the LUCS would have to come from the City or go through the Land Use Board of Appeals the same way Zenith appealed the City's initial decision.
Zenith is operating in compliance with its existing Title V permit. Per Oregon law, while Zenith has a complete, timely application in, it may operate consistent with its existing permit until DEQ makes a permitting decision.