Statement from Brett Vandenheuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper and Power Past Coal coalition in response to Millenium Bulk Terminals filing permit for 44 million ton coal export facility in Longview, WA
“Millennium went into hiding after they were caught lying about the scale of their coal export terminal one year ago. No one has forgotten the lies and the mistrust of the big coal companies. They now propose to make Longview a coal town, home to the largest coal export facility in North America. Toxic coal dust and clogged traffic from coal trains is the wrong direction for Longview and for Washington.
Longview, the Columbia River Gorge, Spokane and all the other communities along the rail line would experience at least 16 coal trains, each a mile long, rumbling through their towns every day just from this coal export project. Toxic coal dust and dirty diesel emissions are not safe to breathe.
Sixteen slow-moving coal trains through Longview would snarl traffic and wait times of close to two hours a day. It would mean over 6,000 new coal trains rumbling through our communities every year. We would see increased traffic delays at busy rail crossings, with coal trains clogging traffic, slowing response times for emergency responders, limiting access to neighborhoods, schools and business corridors and lowering property values. Who pays for these impacts? Who pays the rail upgrades? This is the wrong direction for Longview.
In November 2010, Cowlitz County Commissioners approved a shoreline permit to build a coal export facility shipping five million tons per year. In February of 2011, residents learned the Australian-based Ambre Energy, its U.S. subsidiary Millenium Bulk Terminals and St. Louis-based Arch Coal intended to ship 60 million tons of coal and purposefully deceived local and state officials to get faster approval.
Longview should trust this company as far as you can throw 44 million tons of coal.”
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Columbia Riverkeeper’s mission is to restore and protect the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean.
Power Past Coal is a coalition of organizations sharing a common interest to prevent the West Coast from becoming a high volume coal corridor.
Contacts:
Brett VandenHeuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper: 503-348-2436
Kimberly Larson, Climate Solutions, 206-388-8674
