Letter: Disappointed in Benton County’s support of coal export terminal

I am extremely disappointed in the thoughtless action by the Benton County Commission in passing a resolution to endorse the Millennium bulk coal export terminal at Longview.

Their resolution stated that the coal terminal will revitalize an aging industrial site, create valuable construction jobs, improve the environment by cleaning up the site, and improve transportation infrastructure to the benefit of the cities and port districts along the river, including in Benton and Franklin counties.

First, the environmental impact statement says that “cleanup efforts at the site are already in progress and are handled separately from the coal export terminal proposal.” Second, I fail to see how moving eight or nine-mile long trains through Benton and Franklin counties daily will improve the transportation infrastructure.

That leaves us with “revitalize an aging industrial site in Longview and create construction jobs.” I see little benefit here when compared to the negative impacts outlined in the environmental impact statement, or more importantly the impact of burning 44 million tons of dirty coal and the resulting increase in greenhouse gases and pollution.

It is wrong and ecologically unsustainable (thoughtless) to export excess pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

This story was originally published June 16, 2016 at 2:14 AM with the headline "Letter: Disappointed in Benton County’s support of coal export terminal."