Yogi Berra put it best: "it's like déjà vu all over again."

The second proposed coal export facility in Washington - the first being Cherry Point - is getting more attention now as Millennium Bulk Terminals in Longview wants to build and operate a terminal to export coal from the site of the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter in Cowlitz County.

If approved, the proposed 44 million tons per year coal export terminal (which would be the largest in the United States) would bring 16 coal trains through Spokane each day en route to Asian markets.  

Cowlitz County, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are together conducting the Environmental Impact Statement process for the proposed terminal project and will produce one joint EIS. Cowlitz County and Ecology must follow the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and the Corps must follow the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The EIS scoping process ends Nov. 18. The agencies have established an official website – www.millenniumbulkeiswa.gov – that provides information about the scoping process, how to submit comments, meetings and other helpful information about the environmental review process.

Through scoping, the agencies will decide what impacts to analyze in the EIS. The three lead agencies will ask other agencies, tribes and the public to recommend what should be studied in the EIS and identify specific issues and concerns. After considering comments, the lead agencies will decide what will be included in the EIS.

The lead agencies will host five scoping meetings. Each meeting will include an open house with information on the proposed project, staff available to answer questions, and opportunities to provide oral or written comments. Meetings will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. No formal presentation will occur, so people may arrive and leave as they choose during the meeting hours.

The final meeting dates are set for these dates and locations:

· Longview: Sept. 17, Cowlitz County Event Center, 1900 7th Ave.

· Spokane: Sept. 25, Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

· Pasco: Oct. 1, The Trac Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.

· Clark County: Oct. 9, Clark County Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield

· Tacoma: Oct. 17, Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Broadway

In scoping, the lead agencies seek comments that will guide their decision on how the EIS will address:

· A reasonable range of alternatives including alternative sites and project designs based on the project purpose.

· Potentially affected natural, cultural, or community resources and the extent of study and analysis needed to understand each potential impact.

· Significant probable unavoidable adverse impacts.

· Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate (offset) effects of the proposal.

The scoping process does not address whether the proposal should receive permits. It will help define what will be studied in the EIS. 

Please submit a comment while the comment period is open. To RSVP for the Spokane hearing on September 25th, do so HERE.

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