Coal export terminal could boost greenhouse gas emissions, state says
A coal-export terminal proposed along the Columbia River in southwest Washington could have significant unavoidable impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and rail safety, state and local regulators said.
A draft environmental review released Friday says carbon emissions would increase by 2.5 million metric tons a year when the proposed facility near Longview is fully operating and the coal is burned in Asia. While measures can be taken to reduce those emissions, the impact “would still be significant and adverse,” said the analysis done by the Washington Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County.
Other concerns outlined in the review include increased vessel traffic on the Columbia and the potential for train accidents as up to 16 train trips are added each day.
The Millennium Bulk Terminals’ Longview facility would handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal a year. Coal would arrive by train from Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado to be loaded on ships headed for energy-hungry markets in Asia.
Up to eight mile-long coal trains would arrive daily at the terminal, and eight empty trains would leave. Some of the coal trains would travel through Sandpoint and Spokane on BNSF Railway Co.’s line, with others arriving on Union Pacific trains through Oregon.
The study said without rail and road improvements, the increased coal train traffic would create long delays during rush hour at rail crossings on the route. Spokane County would have the largest increase in delays.
Millennium CEO Bill Chapman on Friday said the company is a step closer to creating family-wage jobs in Longview while meeting the state’s strict environmental standards.
The Alliance for Northwest Jobs and Exports supports the project but is concerned about requirements for greenhouse gas mitigation, said Kathryn Stenger, an alliance spokeswoman.
“The unprecedented demand to require Millennium to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions that occur on the other side of the globe will create a harrowing process that should terrify any Washington manufacturer or shipper looking to expand its facility,” she said in a news release.
Opponents say moving millions of tons of coal through the state and along the Columbia River would harm people’s health and the environment. Burning the exported coal would release emissions equivalent to building five new coal-fired plants, opponents said.
“The proposed coal terminal in Longview would mean our community gets dirty coal train traffic – threatening our health, safety, economy, and Lake Pend Oreille – without any benefit,” said Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad.