Title
LETTERS OF REQUEST FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONSIDERATIONOF LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF COAL EXPORT TERMINALS PENDING IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON
Initiated by: Mary Jane Melink
Supported by: Tom Hutchinson
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Provide sustainable water quality and environmental infrastructure
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
1. Currently there are six coal export terminal proposals pending in the Washington and Oregon slated to export approximately 157 million tons of coal annually. Each proposal is being evaluated and permitted individually without comprehensive consideration of the cumulative benefits and/or impacts all the pending proposals Washington State and our individual communities.
2. Moving 157 million tons of coal from the coal fields of Montana and Wyoming through the Columbia River Gorge for shipment will have economic, community, environmental and transportation benefits and impacts to Washington and more specifically Cowlitz County and Longview.
3. We as an individual community and as a part of the State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest understand the potential economic benefits of locating a coal export facility in our community; however, we believe that we need to understand all the impacts and risk (positive and negative) associated with this proposal.
4. The impacts from the transport of coal through Washington and its communities could be significant. Areas of concern that merit a study, at a minimum include:
· Increased vessel traffic on the Columbia River, including navigational and maritime safety concerns (the proposals could result in a 70% increase in ship traffic in the Columbia River)
· Protection of water quality, including increased risk of spills
· Impacts to listed anadromous fish species
· Coal dust emissions at the facilities and during product transport
· Emissions of other air pollutants, including diesel particulate, ozone, mercury and gr...
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