Last fall, I joined thousands of citizens across Washington in expressing concern over the impact of coal (for export) being trafficked through my community. The proposed coal export terminal in Longview would clearly profit out-of-state coal companies (Arch Coal and Ambre Energy) while needlessly inflicting harm on communities all the way from Eastern Washington and Montana through the Columbia River Gorge and up through Southwest Washington.
The Washington state Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County have kept faith with us by committing to a broad look at a full range of impacts through their environmental review process. They will study not only individual impacts, but also the cumulative effects of other projects that would contribute to health, safety, environmental and transportation risks that turn this proposal into a loss over benefit calculation for local affected communities.
Let’s thank our Vancouver City Council for the resolution it passed back in July 2012, which raised many of the issues that will be included in the scope of this environmental review. And let’s convey a heartfelt “thank you” to Cowlitz County and the Washington Department of Ecology, for listening and respecting the voices of so many concerned citizens.
Cathryn Chudy
Vancouver
