Stop the coal trains

Kudos for Jan Hoem’s Feb. 26 guest opinion, “Fight coal exports, trains,” about coal company intentions to send trains through Spokane loaded with coal on its way to power plants in Asian countries.

I am writing Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark today. I am including the guest opinion, and telling him why I very much oppose this coal export project.

From my living room window, I can see trains as they leave Spokane, and I, along with others here, will be affected by the coal dust pollution from open coal cars and from the diesel locomotives. There will also be extra wait times at the railroad crossings and possible added structural costs. These coal trains will negatively impact Spokane while bringing us no benefit.

Of even greater concern to me is the burning of more fossils fuels as we watch our glaciers melt and global temperatures increase. I end my letter to the commissioner, “How can we consciously proceed to harm ourselves and future generations and ignore the damage our current activity is doing to our bodies and to our planet? Please do everything in your power to stop the export of this coal.”

Pauline Druffel

Spokane