coal-free northwest clean air - healthy communities - no coal exports

Coal-Free NorthwestClean Air - Healthy Communities - No Coal

Exports

Coal is a Dirty Business

Big Coal Threatens Our Progress

Cherry Point, WA

Other Proposals Around the Region

• Longview, WA

• St Helens, OR

• Port of Morrow, OR

• Coos Bay, OR

Coal Exports Threaten our Quality of Life

“

Coal Exports Threatens our Health

“After completing a careful and detailed

review of the medical literature, we believe

that the health impacts would be substantial, including increased

rates of many diseases and increased death

rates directly attributable to this

project. The effects of air pollution are not

hypothetical, but real and measurable.”

-Dr. Frank James, Whatcom Docs

Coal Exports Threatens our Safety

In July, the U.S. suffered 6 coal train derailments in the span of two weeks.

Mesa WA (seen here): 31 overturned railcars spilled an estimated 6 million pounds of coal.

Derailments in Kansas, Texas, Chicago (killing 2 people), Indiana and North Carolina.

Coal Exports Threatens Our Marine Economy and Wildlife

Cape Violet seen recently transporting coal from Westshore ,BC is 180,000 tons . The ferry

below is 2,500 tons and holds 1,000 passengers.

Coal Exports Threaten our Economy

“Our purpose is local economic development leading to the creation of good family wage jobs in

our community. Let there be no doubt, the Gateway project as currently proposed will have a

very negative impact on our local economy.”-Port of Skagit, letter to SSA Marine

Coal Exports Threatens our Climate

We Deserve A Better Future

We Must Act Now

“This is not a future that I want to see. I will, therefore, work with citizen groups, other elected officials, businesses and the health care community to oppose the current plan for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal.”-Former Bellingham Mayor, Dan Pike

PartnershipsPower Past Coal :

Columbia RiverkeeperReSources

Climate SolutionsWA Environmental Council

EarthjusticeWestern Organization Resource Council

Others:Physicians for Social Responsibility

GreenpeaceEarth Ministry

Rainforest Action NetworkWhatcom Docs

Landowners and Citizens for Safe CommunitiesNational Wildlife Federation

Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Why the Environmental Impact Statement? • Demonstrates power - First coal export EIS , sets the tone

on coal exports impacts.

• Builds technical and Political expectations - Sets strong standards for permitting.

• Amplifies the regional and national significance of this issue.

• Lays a foundation for legal and finance challenges down the road.

Public Outcry Gets Results

Statement by State Rep. Dean Takko, district including Longview, prime sponsor of shoreline development streamlining bill, after our coalition generated hundreds of calls and emails about the bill.

“Once they said it would help coal and word went out it would help coal, this bill was dead on arrival…I don’t want to be the guy out there with the reputation that I wanted to get coal in the ports.”

How Will We Win? 1. Request regional hearings.

2. Massive turnout region-wide, quality AND quantity.

3. Technical comments, and public comments and unique messengers.

4. Strong Media and Communications coverage.

5. Engage leadership, provide political space for opposition.

TIMELINE: 

March 2012Pre-scoping meeting - overview of process from the agencies.

Summer/FallScoping comment period – 120 days for submitting written comments to agencies.

Summer/FallScoping hearings – held in Bellingham and (we contend) communities that will be impacted by rail traffic and represent a broad state geography.

Winter 2012Scope of EIS released.

2013Draft EIS released. Comments collected on Draft EIS.

2014Final EIS.

TIMELINE (continued)

We Can Make Difference!

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