To: Washington Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County
COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED: We must defeat this proposal to build the nation's largest coal export ter...
I support the "no action" alternative in the Millennium Bulk Terminals draft environmental impact statement (EIS). Millennium's proposed coal export terminal would harm communities throughout the Northwest, with the most intense impacts felt in Longview, Washington, near the proposed terminal site. The project harms our health and safety, air and water quality, and natural resources. I urge you to protect public health and natural resources. Reject coal export.
Climate change: Washington state is a national leader in the fight to combat climate change. Considering rail and vessel emissions alone, this project would be one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the state. Coal export undermines the state's hard work to combat climate change and protect future generations.
Health and the environment: The draft EIS reveals many serious impacts to human health and the environment. It dismisses other impacts without a valid basis. The final EIS should incorporate the best available science, real-world examples, and a comprehensive health impact assessment. The agencies undercut public, tribal, and agency input by failing to complete a health impact assessment before releasing the draft EIS.
Rail traffic: The draft EIS demonstrates that Millennium's project would have a severe impact on rail and road congestion. Because Millennium cannot fix this significant harm--from mine to terminal--the agencies should deny permits.
Weak and unenforceable mitigation: In some instances, the draft EIS claims mitigation can reduce coal dust, rail traffic, and other project impacts. For example, to mitigate coal dust from the terminal, the draft EIS proposes a reporting process for coal dust complaints. This borders on offensive. A phone call or email to complain about coal dust fouling a person's lungs, home and river is not "mitigation." The agencies should revise the draft EIS and remove inadequate, unsupported and unenforceable mitigation.
Why is this important?
Your urgent help is needed to defeat a proposal to build the nation’s largest coal export terminal.
The Millennium coal export terminal would ship 44 million tons of coal annually to Asia via Longview, Washington, putting the local community at risk. It would also generate more greenhouse gas pollution in Asia, contributing to climate change.
For the last six years, Earthjustice’s legal team has represented local communities opposed to the project. Now we have just a few weeks left to submit public comments on the draft environmental impact statement for this massive project. Make your voice heard today. Say NO to the largest coal export terminal in the United States.
The transportation of this coal poses a risk for everyone in its path. The coal would be sourced from mines in Montana and Wyoming, then loaded into uncovered boxcars to be transported by rail to the proposed terminal on the Columbia River. Coal dust from the mile-long coal trains would pollute nearby communities along the rail route. Once the coal arrived at the Longview terminal, it would sit in enormous open-air piles, where winds would blow coal dust into the city of Longview, creating a public health hazard.
Coal’s future is bleak—Millennium backer Arch Coal filed for bankruptcy in January, and its dreams of mining in Montana’s Otter Creek are over. But Big Coal still wants to have a dirty coal chute to Asia as its last hope for keeping this unhealthy industry. Fortunately, the movement to stop dirty coal from polluting our towns and rivers is bigger and stronger than ever. Now is the time to raise our voices and lock out dirty coal once and for all.
Please stand up to Big Coal today. Let’s make sure this proposal is stopped in its tracks once and for all.