Draft Environmental Study for Longview Terminal Released

Cowlitz County and the Washington Department of Ecology have published a draft study evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed coal export terminal near Longview.

The 45-day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement includes three public hearings: May 24 in Longview, May 26 in Spokane and June 2 in Pasco.

“The partnership between Cowlitz County and Ecology brings together our local knowledge and state perspective to form a thorough consideration of impacts,” said Elaine Placido, Cowlitz County Director of Building and Planning.

“The draft study answers a wide range of questions from the public, and now it’s time for people to review and offer their perspective,” said Sally Toteff, regional director for Ecology’s Southwest Region Office.

The study is available for public review through June 13.

About the project

Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview is proposing to build and operate a terminal that would handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal annually.

The proposed facility would bring in coal from western United States with trains, stockpile it at the facility and then export the coal by ship to Asia.

The draft study evaluates 23 environmental resource areas using analytical methods and information from multiple studies. The areas include the natural environment, the man-made environment and transportation.

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