Happy with coal review

In response to “State to consider environmental review of coal terminal projects.” Once again, we have evidence that the Washington Department of Ecology is listening to Spokane and the Inland Northwest.

Last fall, thousands showed up to public hearings across the state, including one here in Spokane, to voice their concerns about a proposed coal export terminal in Longview that, if built, would be the largest such terminal in North America; exporting up to 44 million metric tons of coal per year to Asia.

Throughout the environmental impact statement scoping period, more than 200,000 comments were gathered, all in the effort to help determine the scope of threats to be studied. Astounding.

Feb. 12, Ecology and Cowlitz County announced a broad scope of their EIS that will consider coal combustion in China, impacts to rail communities like Spokane and rail impacts in communities outside Washington.

It’s promising to see Ecology and Cowlitz County using their authority to raise questions about the vast threats of coal exports, especially the threats we here in Spokane and the greater inland Northwest face due to our location on what Big Coal would like to see as a conveyor belt from Wyoming and Montana to Asia.

Thank you, Ecology and Gov. Jay Inslee.

Bart Mihailovich

Spokane