Army Corps Stops Permitting Process for Ambre Energy’s Morrow Pacific Coal Export Terminal

Allison Roberts News

Today the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will stop all permitting for Ambre Energy’s floundering Morrow Pacific coal export project along the Columbia River. Ambre needs Army Corps permits for an industrial coal dock in order to build and operate its proposed export terminal near Boardman, Ore. The federal agency’s decision to stop all permit reviews, including …

Letter from the Chairman of the Lummi Nation

Allison Roberts News

To Those Assembled: For generations, tribal peoples have witnessed the impact of faceless ‘persons’ — corporations –on the lands, water, air, and human and environmental health. Though at times consulted, we have not been heard as a real voice in defending our traditional homeland territories. Instead, we have seen the degradation of our land and water, our traditional foods and medicines, and …

Homes near rail lines face exposure to harmful emissions: study

Allison Roberts News

A University of Washington study has found residents near rail lines face increased exposure to harmful microscopic particles from diesel emissions. The study also found residents are exposed to larger particles, possibly from coal trains. The study, accepted for publication this month in the online journal Atmospheric Pollution Research, provides some of the first measurements of emission effects of coal …

Broad Scope for Longview Coal Terminal Evaluation Announced

Allison Roberts News

Broad Scope for Longview Coal Terminal Evaluation Announced Strong EIS will consider coal combustion in China, rail impacts in communities outside WA View this press release in PDF form. Contacts: Gayle Kiser, Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community (Longview) 360-749-7029 Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, Columbia Riverkeeper, 503-929-5950 Kimberly Larson, Power Past Coal, 206-388-8674 Krista Collard, Sierra Club, 614-622-9109 LONGVIEW, WA – …

Coal and oil: A mix to fuel NW fears

Allison Roberts News

The masses that stormed the gates of Big Coal in 2013 are turning their fury on Big Oil as the new year opens and the Pacific Northwest considers a future as a massive pipeline on rails connecting the fossil-fuel deposits of Wyoming and North Dakota to the furnaces and factories of Asia. Tens of thousands of regional citizens testified at …

China Exports Pollution to U.S., Study Finds

Allison Roberts News

BEIJING — Filthy emissions from China’s export industries are carried across the Pacific Ocean and contribute to air pollution in the Western United States, according to a paper published Monday by a prominent American science journal. The research is the first to quantify how air pollution in the United States is affected by China’s production of goods for export and …

Colombia blocks Drummond coal loading after rule breach

Allison Roberts News

Colombia has ordered US-based coal producer Drummond to stop loading coal in Colombian ports until the company complies with new environmental rules. Under the regulations, coal exporters will no longer be allowed to use barges and cranes to load ships. The rules are aimed at preventing spillage and pollution of the seas. Three weeks ago, Drummond was fined $3.5m (£2.1m) …

Goldman Sachs Sacks Coal Terminal Investment

Allison Roberts News

For Immediate Release January 8, 2013 Goldman Sachs Infrastructure Partners has sold off its remaining equity investment in Carrix, the parent company of Pacific International Terminals (PIT) and SSA Marine (they were 49% stakeholders).   PIT, SSA Marine and Peabody Energy have proposed a 48 million ton per year coal export terminal north of Bellingham, WA at Cherry Point.   If built, …

Environmentalists win a round in coal dust lawsuit vs. BNSF

Allison Roberts News

While it may not be the “major victory” that environmental groups are trumpeting in their press release, the Thursday, Jan. 2 ruling by a Yakima federal judge certainly avoids a major defeat in their lawsuit targeting coal dust emissions from BNSF rail cars rolling through Washington state. Lonny Suko, Senior U.S. District Judge, denied a motion to dismiss the July …

Coal Trains Run into Stiff Resistance in U.S.

Allison Roberts News

Citizens and activists in the U.S. Pacific Northwest are fighting three different proposed coal terminals, including one in Oregon and two in Washington. Meanwhile, three formerly proposed coal terminals have already been defeated. Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign recently cited these defeats as signs of progress in the broader campaign to retire the use of coal plants across the U.S. …