By Don McDermott • Realtor • Vineyard owner • Dallesport Community Council Chairman & Mike Rockwell • Realtor • Real estate developer As presented to the Bingen, WA City Council 2/7/2011 Coal Trains in the Columbia Gorge
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ByDon McDermott• Realtor• Vineyard owner• Dallesport Community Council Chairman&Mike Rockwell• Realtor• Real estate developer
As presented to the Bingen, WA City Council 2/7/2011
Coal Trains in the Columbia
Gorge
What drives the need for more coal?
• Economic expansion in China and India
• Huge and growing population
• Increasing energy consumption
Dadong, Shanxi province, China
Photo credit: National Geographic
1 Major Western Coal Mining Region
Click on map for more information
NW Coal Export Supply Chain
1…..Landowners – US Government, some private ownership
2………Miners – Peabody Energy, Ambre Energy, Arch Coal
3……….……..Railroads – BNSF, Union Pacific
4…………..………..Proposed Export Terminals – Bellingham, Longview,
Grey’s Harbor, St. Helen’s, Coo’s Bay
5……………….….............Ocean Bulk Shippers
6..……….……………..............Asian Import Terminals
7.……………………………………….Asian Railroads
8………………….………..……………….…Asian Power Plants
Proposed Coal Export Route
Proposed WA Terminals & Coal Shipment Estimates• Bellingham (Cherry Point) @ 54 million tons/yr. = 9 trains per day by 2024• Longview (Millennium) @ 60 to 80 million tons/yr. = 10 to 15 trains per day• Grey’s Harbor (Hoquiam) @ 5 (?) million tons/yr. = 1 train per day
Figures given are for WA coal trains going one way, not round trip 20 to 25 coal trains daily
Map credit: Coal on a Roll article, NRDC
Grey’s Harbor
Proposed Oregon Coal Export Ports
Port of Morrow (Boardman) rail to barge
Port of St. Helens two proposals
Port of Coos Bay
Map credit: Sierra Club
S. African Coal Terminal – 80 million tons, one of the largest in the world. Same as eventually proposed for Longview, WA
Are coal export terminals good neighbors? Click on photo to read this report.
Huge Coal Ships require terminal dredging
Potential difficulty in navigating the Columbia River, crossing the Columbia Bar (up to 50’ winter waves) with shifting cargo
Photo credit: Columbia River Bar Pilots
Capesize bulk carrier, largest cargo ships afloat
Photo credit: © Mercator Media
One of 48 fascinating photos of coal use though out the world, pictorial news essay from The Boston Globe
Rail Capacity in the Gorge In 2006 Study, rail in the Gorge
is rated “constrained”
BNSF averages 28 trains per day, “capacity” is 36
By 2015 to 2025 capacity will be exceeded
Longer delays at RR crossings
Push for double track expansion likely outcome
Click HERE to access this report on-line
What impacts would Bingen face?
Health & SafetyAgricultureTransportationEconomicEnvironmental
Global Impacts Climate change Mining reclamation & coal ash disposal
Health ImpactsHealth Impacts as compiled by 160
Whatcom Co. doctors against coal trains
Coal Dust – bronchitis, emphysema, toxic heavy metals
Diesel particulate matter – lung inflammation, cancer risk, asthma (a leading health cost and more harmful to children)
Noise Exposure – upsets nervous system
Delays at rail crossings can hold up medical service response times. Higher accident rates from more trains
Coal Dust Video- minimum of 500 lbs./car lost in transit per BNSF study
Click Here if you have an internet connection to open a 2:19 minute You-Tube coal train video with excessive dust in Cassandra, PA.
The coal dust shown here may represent a “worst case” near-the-mine condition.
Click Here for a link to a 4 minute video of a coal train in a windy river canyon in BC that more closely represents what we might see in the Columbia River Gorge. Go to the 2 minute mark to really start to see it blow.
More trains = More accidents
• Nationwide 3000 collisions and 900 pedestrian accidents every year.• Crossings with over 30 trains per day = greatest risk.
Safety Hazard
Click on the image to go to the handbook
Coal dust increases derailments
Agricultural Impacts
Coal dust is toxic
Spreads up 7 + miles away
Grapes, wheat, fruit orchards impacted
coal dust on the land
Transportation Impacts
From 32 trains/day average now to 52 trains per day.
Approximately one train, 1 to 1.5 miles in length, every 26 minutes.
More time spent waiting.
Economic Impacts
Delay accessing the Port of Klickitat
Delay accessing Insitu and SDS Lumber Company
Economic Impacts
More frequent train and whistle noise detracts from: livabilitypeace of mind real estate values
for all of Bingen
Potential reduction in recreational tourism
Coal dust on personal property
Economic Impacts
Previous west coast coal exports fail
Coal rejected at Ports of Tacoma, Vancouver,
Portland
Market is risky and fickle for coal
Few jobs are created at the ports
Recent coal export failures
Portland 1980’s – loss of $25,000,000
Los Angeles 1990’s – loss $47,000,000 to taxpayers
February 14, 1983February 14, 1983
Tourism ImpactsWho
wants to look at a moving wall of rail cars?
River Tourism Obstructed
At-grade river access sites
and at in-lieu fishing sites
More barges = river recreation conflicts
Environmental Impacts
Local Impacts: Coal dust pollutes land and water Diesel particulate from trains and barges pollutes air
Global Impacts Mining reclamation mostly unsuccessful Toxic coal ash in China & India Asian air pollution pollutes NW rivers, lakes and fish Serious contributor to climate change
Link to great Coal on a Roll article that was mentioned covering all aspects of the issue.
What is the WA decision making process?
A Washington State Environmental Policy Act Analysis (SEPA) will be required for each coal terminal.
If ocean/river dredging is needed for the coal terminal the Army Corp of Engineers will require a National Environmental Policy Act Analysis (NEPA).
Environmental Impact Statement Steps
1. Scoping process – due this spring on the proposed
Bellingham terminal
Public comment
2. Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS)
Public comment
3. Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS)
Who Are the WA Decision Makers?
Commissioner Peter Goldmark Department of Natural Resources
Director Ted Sturdevant Department of Ecology
Local County/City Zoning Permits Re: Growth Management Act
Governor Christine Gregoire Will provide advice on the project
Communities banding together CAN make a difference
Communities in WA that have already weighed in: Dallesport Community CouncilBurlington Chamber of CommercePort of SkagitCity of LongviewCity of BurlingtonCity of EdmondsMayor statements from Bellingham, Seattle, MarysvilleAnd others….
Actions that the City of Bingen could take
Pass a resolution raising concerns
Send letters to:
BNSF Railway Company
County, state and federal elected officials
To a healthy and livable Columbia Gorge. Lets keep it that way.
Presentation v.2.1 created by Peter Cornelison, Field Representative, Friends of the Columbia GorgeHood River, OR. Please contact me with any suggestions or corrections: [email protected]
Please become a friend of the Columbia Gorge www.gorgefriends.org
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