Review of Washington coal-export terminal to be released

SEATTLE – State and local regulators on Friday are releasing a sweeping review of a coal export terminal proposed along the Columbia River in southwest Washington.

The analysis is expected to study impacts that extend well beyond the facility site in southwest Washington, from global-warming effects of burning the exported coal in Asia to rail impacts as the coal is from the Rockies throughout the state.

Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview has proposed a facility to handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal a year. Coal would arrive on trains from Montana and Wyoming and be exported by ships to Asia.

Opponents say shipping millions of tons of coal through Washington is a bad deal, because of carbon pollution, increased train traffic and health impacts.

Millennium President Bill Chapman said earlier this month that the company is ready to provide jobs and build a port that meets or exceeds the state’s strict environment standards.