The DEIS is out for the proposed coal export terminal in Longview, WA. The results show that, as the largest terminal in North America, coal export in Longview would create “hours and hours” of traffic delays while producing an enormous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 5 coal fired power plants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read on to learn more about the DEIS of this dirty and dangerous project. Be sure to submit you comment as a person of faith on Earth Ministry\/WAIPL’s sign on letter.<\/a>\u00a0Speak up in person at public hearings in Longview on May 24<\/a>, Spokane on May 26<\/a>, and Pasco on June 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n April 29, 2016\u00a0 Longview, WA<\/i>: The Washington Department of Ecology today released their draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)<\/span><\/a> for Millennium Bulk Terminal\u2019s proposed coal export terminal along the Columbia River. The report comes after the agency received over 165,000 public comments calling for a broad review of the proposed coal export terminal.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe review’s findings confirm what the public has said for over six years: This project has significant, unavoidable impacts–from greenhouse gas emissions to traffic delays,\u201d stated Jan Hasselman, attorney for the Power Past Coal Coalition. \u201cThe\u00a0Dept. of Ecology acknowledges that\u00a0moving over 44 million tons of coal in uncovered trains and stockpiling it along the Columbia would harm people\u2019s health and the river.\u00a0The bad news is\u00a0the review falls short, relying on unproven mitigation. Now is the public\u2019s chance to weigh-in to say\u00a0no to\u00a0coal export\u00a0in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>If built, the Longview terminal would export up to 44 million tons of coal each year to Asia and would be the biggest coal export terminal in North America.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>The public called on the U.S. Army Corps, WA Dept. of Ecology and Cowlitz County to evaluate a broad array of impacts, including local and regional congestion issues from up to 16 coal trains per day (full and empty), health impacts from increased coal dust and diesel emissions, the cumulative impacts from the other proposed coal export terminals, and the climate and health impacts of burning coal in Asia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cThe report paints a bleak picture for people who live near the coal terminal,\u201d said Roy Staples, Longview resident with Landowners & Citizens for a Safe Community.\u00a0 \u201cIt confirms what we know from coal export sites around the world. They\u2019re dirty. Coal dust hangs in the air and coating homes. The path forward is clear: Uncovered coal trains and stockpiles have no place in Longview, along the Columbia, or on the exposed BNSF railroad adjacent\u00a0to\u00a0traffic on both sides of\u00a0Interstate-5.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>In the report, the Dept. of Ecology does note that the greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed terminal could be the equivalent of five coal-fired power plants.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cWe are already seeing industries critical to our economy being hit hard by climate impacts and we are moving off of coal-fired power in Washington, said Beth Doglio of Power Past Coal coalition. \u201cWe can do better than coal exports.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>While the report acknowledges the problem with coal dust, it does not address how to solve or mitigate the health problem, stating: \u201c[R]esidents who live along the main line could experience nuisance levels [of coal dust] which may visible soiling on window sills, outdoor furniture, and other property.\u201d DEIS Chap. 5 at 5.7-21.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cAs a local realtor and a landowner with vineyards next to the railroad tracks these coal trains pollute the landscape, hurt property values and degrade the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area,\u201d said Don McDermott of Dallesport, Washington.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cPolluted air is hurting our health and it\u2019s going to get much worse if we don’t take action,\u201d stated Dr. Patrick O’Herron, President of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. \u201cThe sooner we take steps to protect ourselves from dirty coal, the sooner every family, community, and business will benefit from cleaner air and water, better health, lower health care costs, and stronger communities.\u00a0Protecting ourselves from the health effects of coal trains is the right thing to do – and the smart thing to do.”<\/p>\n <\/span>The review stops short of looking at the impacts to communities outside of Washington State\u2019s borders, despite the fact that communities along the rail-line and close to the strip mines would see impacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cThe Longview coal port is bad news for Montana,\u201d said Montana rancher Steve Charter. \u201cIf it were built, we\u2019d have to live with the effects of coal mining, and dozens of Montana rail towns would have to endure the traffic delays, diesel exhaust, and air pollution as private companies ship Montana coal to Asia.\u201d\u00a0 Charter, former Chair of Northern Plains Resource Council in Billings, Montana, ranches above a longwall, underground mine in the Bull Mountains of southcentral Montana.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cThe proposed coal terminal in Longview, WA would mean our community gets dirty coal train traffic \u2013 threatening our health, safety, economy, and Lake Pend Oreille \u2013 without any benefit,\u201d said Shelby Rognstad, Mayor of Sandpoint, ID. \u201cWe cannot let multinational corporations threaten our community’s\u00a0livelihood just so they can profit.\u00a0This impact statement makes the decision clear \u2013 this coal project should be rejected \u2013 as it already has been by communities across the Northwest.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Of the seven proposed coal export terminals in the Northwest, two remain on the table in Washington: Millennium Bulk Terminals in Longview and Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point, outside of Bellingham. The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to announce a decision around the Lummi Tribe\u2019s treaty rights on May 9th. A court challenge to block the development of a coal terminal at the Fraser Surrey Docks in British Columbia won a legal victory earlier in the week, when a judge dismissed objections from project proponents, allowing the lawsuit to continue.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>The release starts the 45 day public comment period ending June 13<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> during which anyone can comment on the draft substance. There are three public hearings in Longview<\/a> (May 24), Spokane<\/a> (May 26), and Pasco<\/a> (June 2). Public comments are being accepted online here. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will release their draft report in July. Millennium originally submitted permits in 2010 for a much smaller terminal, but news outlets<\/span><\/a> revealed they failed to disclose the scope of their plans for the project to the community in the first round of permitting and had to pull their original permits.<\/p>\n <\/span>Contacts:\u00a0 <\/span>###<\/span> POWER PAST COAL<\/a> is an ever-growing alliance of health, environmental, clean-energy, faith and community groups and businesses working to stop coal export off the West Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n
Power Past Coal Coalition\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/span>Kimberly Larson, Climate Solutions, 206-388-8674
<\/span>Liz Terhaar, Columbia Riverkeeper, 541-387-3030
<\/span>Kerry McHugh, Washington Environmental Council, 206-902-7555
<\/span>Michael Lang, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, 971-634-2030<\/p>\n
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