Ecology: Key Permit Denied for Longview Project

The Washington Department of Ecology has denied a water quality permit sought by Millennium Bulk Terminals to construct and operate the largest coal export terminal in North America.

Ecology denied the permit because the coal export terminal near Longview would have caused significant and unavoidable harm to nine environmental areas: air quality, vehicle traffic, vessel traffic, rail capacity, rail safety, noise pollution, social and community resources, cultural resources, and tribal resources.

“After extensive study and deliberation, I am denying Millennium’s proposed coal export project,” said Ecology Director, Maia Bellon. “There are simply too many unavoidable and negative environmental impacts for the project to move forward.”

Some of the environmental impacts from building the coal terminal would have included:

  • filling 24 acres of wetlands;
  • dredging 41.5 acres of the Columbia riverbed;
  • installing 537 pilings in the river for a new trestle and docks.

This complex project, if built, would have moved 44 million metric tons of coal annually.

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