Coal terminal proposal draws 14,000 comments

EVERETT – After seven public meetings across Washington about a proposed coal export terminal near Bellingham, more than 14,000 comments have been collected.

The comments will determine issues to be examined in an environmental study.

State Ecology Department spokesman Larry Altose told the Daily Herald a final decision on the terminal from the department, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Whatcom County is at least a couple of years away.

The terminal is the largest of five proposed in Washington and Oregon that would ship coal from Montana and Wyoming to power plants in Asia.

Supporters say it would help the economy. Opponents are concerned about long, dusty coal trains and the effect on climate change from burning coal anywhere in the world.

Today at 5 p.m. is the deadline for commenting online: www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov/get-involved/comment.