Concerned about the potential impact of greenhouse gas emissions arising from building a coal export terminal in the southwestern part of the state, the Washington Attorney General on Tuesday joined a coalition of environmental groups in appealing a shoreline development permit that was granted for the project last month.
In a December 28 petition, Attorney General Robert McKenna sought the permission of the state Shorelines Hearing Board to intervene in the December 13 appeal filed by the environmental coalition.
In that appeal, the environmental groups argued that Cowlitz County Commissioners approved the permit without considering the greenhouse gas impacts of burning the exported coal in Asia and of shipping the coal to the terminal for export, as well as the effects of increased mining. They are seeking to have the permit invalidated and the county required to complete all three required analyses, which include impacts on river water quality from dredging, on fish and wildlife, and traffic and hazards of air pollution arising from coal handling in the nearby surroundings, according to Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper's conservation director.
McKenna, on behalf of the Washington Department of Ecology, told the board that the state also had concerns about the greenhouse gas impacts of the project.
The appeal, which must be decided by the board within 180 days of filing, includes a stay of the permit, pushing the construction date of the project into at least late next year.
If constructed, the Longview terminal along the Columbia River would handle up to 5.7 million st/year, though currently permitted for 5 million st. The groups appealing the permit include Columbia Riverkeeper, Washington Environmental Council and Earthjustice.
In a December 28 petition, Attorney General Robert McKenna sought the permission of the state Shorelines Hearing Board to intervene in the December 13 appeal filed by the environmental coalition.
In that appeal, the environmental groups argued that Cowlitz County Commissioners approved the permit without considering the greenhouse gas impacts of burning the exported coal in Asia and of shipping the coal to the terminal for export, as well as the effects of increased mining. They are seeking to have the permit invalidated and the county required to complete all three required analyses, which include impacts on river water quality from dredging, on fish and wildlife, and traffic and hazards of air pollution arising from coal handling in the nearby surroundings, according to Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper's conservation director.
McKenna, on behalf of the Washington Department of Ecology, told the board that the state also had concerns about the greenhouse gas impacts of the project.
The appeal, which must be decided by the board within 180 days of filing, includes a stay of the permit, pushing the construction date of the project into at least late next year.
If constructed, the Longview terminal along the Columbia River would handle up to 5.7 million st/year, though currently permitted for 5 million st. The groups appealing the permit include Columbia Riverkeeper, Washington Environmental Council and Earthjustice.
