Coal trains have been traveling through the Northwest for more than a decade on their way to an export terminal near Vancouver, B.C. Have you ever seen or been affected by the “toxic coal dust” that some point to as a reason to oppose export terminals in Oregon? Coal companies have agreed to add a spray coating to rail cars to stop dust near the mine site where it is a problem and it seems that dust is no longer an issue of concern. It’s time to move beyond scare tactics.
As business representative of International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 23, I’d like to discuss the facts instead. Like the fact that the $200 million Port Westward project at the Port of St. Helens, Ore., will create 150 family-wage construction jobs and 80 family-wage terminal jobs. Those are things with a real impact that you actually can see.
Mike Bodendorfer
Portland
