Seattle Latest to Oppose Expansion of Coal Exports

The Seattle city council unanimously voted to oppose the transportation of coal through Seattle. The May 29 resolution cited negative impacts on the climate as well as regional impacts on human health and rail and freight traffic from the significant increase in coal trains that would run through Seattle. Four coal export projects in the northwest are under permit review that together could increase U.S. coal exports by 150 million tons annually. One, involving the Gateway Terminal at Cherry Point in Bellingham, WA, could increase coal train traffic in Seattle from the current average of one to nine coal trains daily, the council said. Six other Washington cities have officially expressed concerns about the proposed expansion of coal exports. The Oregon governor also has sought an environmental impact assessment of the exports (See ITT's Online Archives 12042702).