Concerns grow as coal export plans threaten to move forward without oversight
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Contact:
- Washougal, WA Mayor Sean Guard, 360.835.8501
- Mosier, OR Mayor Andrea Rogers, 541.806.3250
- Longview, WA Councilman Tom Hutchinson, 360.619.2296
Washougal, WA – Nearly 90 elected officials have declared that the time has come for the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to conduct a comprehensive review of all six of the coal export terminal proposals in the Northwest region. If properly executed, the review would mandate a structured public testimony period and a thorough analysis of all affected communities from mine to rail and from port to plant.
Raising concerns about potential impacts to his city, Washougal Mayor, Sean Guard said, “Washougal, WA is a community that is literally split by the rail lines and home to five at-grade crossings. The increased rail traffic has the potential to significantly increase the wait times that our motorists currently experience.”
Mayor Guard added, “We are also interested to know what, if any, health impacts we might experience from the transportation of coal itself. While we have asked a number of questions to get more clarity, we have yet to receive definitive answers to those questions.”
Despite calls from elected officials on all levels, the Environmental Protection Agency, and tens of thousands of local residents, the Army Corps of Engineers has not yet committed to an area-wide analysis.
“The plan to ship some 44 million tons of coal a year through the coal shipping terminal slated to be built here in Longview, WA will have significant impacts on our community,” said Longview City Council Member, Tom Hutchinson.
“Our communities deserve a comprehensive and cumulative evaluation of all of the potential impacts of these coal export proposals in order for us to better understand and mitigate these threats,” added Hutchinson. “Not only do we have an obligation to protect our residents, but our existing businesses and industry as well.”
The risks associated with each individual proposal stretch far and wide, and are increasingly recognized by elected officials across party lines. Regardless of party majority, several city councils around the region have unanimously passed resolutions, all voicing the same general message: the Army Corps of Engineers must protect the public by bringing the full extent of these coal export threats to light.
“Coal trains rumbling through our town, day and night, would have a negative impact on business and quality of life for Mosier Residents,” said Mayor Andrea Rogers of Mosier, OR.
Mayor Rogers added, “The cumulative impacts of coal exports need to be thoroughly studied, all the way from the mining operations to the pollution that would return to us from Asia. That is why the City of Mosier has called for a full evaluation with a public comment period, so we can look at the big picture impacts of all six of these proposals.”
All elected officials quoted in this release are available for comment and their contact information is listed above.
Background: As coal companies attempts to export up to 150 million tons of coal from West Coast ports; elected leaders from around the region have stood up for local families by signing and sending letters to the Army Corps of Engineers, passing, and signing resolutions, and publicly speaking out for the need of a comprehensive review of all coal export proposals. Below is the ever-growing list of those demanding a comprehensive review for local communities.
- Patty Murray, U.S. Senate
- Adam Smith, U.S. Representative
- Jim McDermott, U.S. Representative
- John Kitzhaber, Oregon Governor
- Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Washington State Senator
- Hans Dunshee, Washington State Representative
- Zack Hudgins, Washington State Representative
- Mitch Greenlick, Oregon State Representative
- Dow Constantine, King County, WA Executive
- Larry Phillips, King County, WA Council
- Jeff Cogen, Multnomah County, OR Council Chair
- Sandra Romero, Thurston County, WA Commissioner, District 2
- Karen Valenzuela, Thurston County, WA Commissioner, District 3
- Cathy Wolfe, Thurston County, WA Commissioner, District 1
- Sam Adams, Mayor, City of Portland, OR
- Mike McGinn, Mayor of Seattle, WA
- Stephen H. Buxbaum, Mayor of Olympia, WA
- Sean Guard, Mayor of Washougal, WA
- Andrea Rogers, Mayor of Mosier, OR
- Jack Weiss, Bellingham, WA City Council
- Stan Snapp, Bellingham, WA City Council
- Gene Knutson, Bellingham, WA City Council
- Michael Plunkett, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Strom Peterson, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Diane Buckshnis, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Joan Bloom, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Frank Yamamoto, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Lora Petso, Edmonds, WA City Council
- Mike O’Brien, Seattle, WA City Council
- Sally Bagshaw, Seattle, WA City Council
- Sally Clark, Seattle, WA City Council
- Richard Conlin, Seattle, WA City Council
- Bruce Harrell, Seattle, WA City Council
- Tim Burgess, Seattle, WA City Council
- Nick Licata, Seattle, WA City Council
- Tom Rasmussen, Seattle, WA City Council
- Jean Godden, Seattle, WA City Council
- Richard Emery, Mukilteo, WA City Council
- Jennifer Gregerson, Mukilteo, WA City Council
- Randy Lord, Mukilteo, WA City Council
- Connie Jo Freeman, Washougal, WA City Council
- Paul Greenlee, Washougal, WA City Council
- Joyce Lindsay, Washougal, WA City Council
- Kathy Fitzpatrick, Mosier, OR City Council
- Peny Wallace, Mosier, OR City Council
- Hector Kent, Mosier, OR City Council
- Steve McKibben, Mosier, OR City Council
- Tim Mortenson, Mosier, OR City Council President
- Don McDermott, Chair, Dallesport, WA Community Council
- Linda Dietzman, Camas, WA City Council
- Moli S Thomas, Stevenson, WA City Council
- Monica Masco, Stevenson, WA City Council
- Julie Mayfield, Stevenson, WA City Council
- Amy Weissfeld, Stevenson, WA City Council
- Bob Jaffe, Missoula, MT City Council
- Marilyn Marler, Missoula, MT City Council
- Dave Strohmaier, Missoula, MT City Council
- Jason Wiener, Missoula, MT City Council
- Jon Wilkins, Missoula, MT City Council
- Cynthia Wolken, Missoula, MT City Council
- Katherine Haque-Hausrath, Helena, MT Commission
- Dick Thweatt, Helena, MT Commission
- Mat Elsaesser, Helena, MT Commission
- Carrie Logan, Sandpoint, ID Commission
- Jamie Brunner, Sandpoint, ID Commission
- Justin Schuck, Sandpoint, ID Commission
- Aaron Qualls, Sandpoint, ID Commission
- Thomas Eddy, Sandpoint, ID Commission
- Shelby Ragnstad, Sandpoint, ID Commission
- Mike Wallin, Longview, WA City Council
- Tom Hutchinson, Longview, WA City Council
- Ken Botero, Longview, WA City Council
- Don Jensen, Longview, WA City Council
- Mary Jane Melink, Longview, WA City Council
- Chet Makinster, Longview, WA City Council
- Dennis Weber, Longview, WA City Council
- Ron Lawson, Lacey, WA City Council
- Cynthia Pratt, Lacey, WA City Council
- Julie Hankins, Olympia, WA City Council
- Anne Blair, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- Sarah Blossom, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- Steve Bonkowski, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- Kirsten Hytopoulos, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- Debbi Lester, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- Bob Scales, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- David Ward, Bainbridge Island, WA City Council
- Steve Tuchscherer, Roseburg, OR City Council
- Joan Cathey, Tumwater, WA City Council
