With Proposed Rail Expansion, Northwest Confronts Its Clean Image. Mining report: Pollution concerns could scuttle coal terminal expansion. Residents and municipal politicians feel sidelined by Port Metro planning process Harold Steves, a Metro Vancouver director and Richmond city councillor: wants to see changes in the way the port handles community concerns By Jen St.
Denis Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:01am PST Concerns about coal dust and opposition to coal as a source of greenhouse gas emissions could derail plans to build a coal handling facility on the Fraser River. Canada's coal industry says that would be a setback for the sector. "Demand is increasing and there have been strains on the supply chain in order to get the commodity to market," said Coal Alliance spokesman Alan Fryer. Bellingham Community Bill of Rights. KSVR 91.7 FM Community Radio Radio interview with Ginny Wolff – June 6, 2012, Rick Dubrow and Stoney Bird join Ginny to discuss the Coal Free Bellingham Campaign.
They are two organizers of an effort to get a ballot initiative passed in Bellingham which would ban coal trafficking within the city. Rick and Stoney talk about the limitations of the existing regulatory processes which have prompted other communities to pass this kind of legislation, why their group in Bellingham is attempting do it now, and what kind of response they are getting. Listen to interview here. Gregoire needs to weigh in on proposed coal-terminal Editorial/Opinion By Stephan Michaels, Thursday, April 12, 2012 – Seattle Times IT was a privilege to speak with Gov. “… [W]e’re going to put it through the environmental-review process,” Gregoire replied. True, the governor hasn’t taken an official stance, but it appears her office initially viewed the project favorably. From Wikipedia………… Bellingham Community Rights vs. Corporate Rights // Northwest Citizen - Pacific Northwest Politics. Permalink + Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 9:21 am // Guest writer Guest writer Suzanne Ravet is a member of Coal-Free Bellingham, the sponsors of the No Coal!
Initiative and Bellingham Community Bill of Rights. A resident of Birch Bay, Suzanne is concerned - for herself and her child - about health issues associated with a nearby coal terminal the size of Gateway Pacific. Suzanne founded Sustainable Communities ALL Over Puget Sound (SCALLOPS) in Enumclaw / Buckley and won an award from the Pierce County Workforce Development Council for her advocacy for youth and labor pre-apprenticehip program in schools. Initiative struck from ballot; supporters appeal decision. This Week The Gristle Tuesday, April 15, 2014 DRIP, DRIP, DRIP: In 2011, Lummi Nation and other tribal authorities requested a declaratory judgement by the federal government on their treaty-reserved water rights, concerned that the oversubscription of water withdrawals threatened tribal fisheries.
While the tribes wait for a federal response, case law continues to accumulate that suggests the federal government will indeed take their tribal water claims very seriously, including a decision in March of last year that requires the state to Continue Reading » Music Hooked on the needle By Carey Ross · Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Council seeks judicial review of Community Bill of Rights initiative - City of Bellingham, WA. Posted: June 19, 2012 12:16:08 PM PDT.
Where Coal Divides, Community Remains. The largest coal export facility on the West coast is proposed to be built near Bellingham, WA.
Some people see it as an opportunity to create jobs. Others worry about the potential environmental impacts of dusty coal trains and climate change. It’s an issue that’s dividing communities around the Northwest. EarthFix’s Ashley Ahearn went to Bellingham, Washington to visit one community at the center of the coal export debate. If you stand in Ann Jones’ driveway and throw a rock you could hit a passing train. Jones: “The train is right up there. Trains like this one come by a few times a day. Coal Export Opponents Dominate Vancouver Hearing. Recent Eastern Washington Coal Spill Raises Questions About Proposed Increased Exports. This week crews are cleaning up about 30 train cars full of coal that overturned near Mesa, in Eastern Washington.
At Public Meeting Seattle Shows Strong Opposition To Gateway Pacific Terminal. More than 2,000 people showed up Thursday to tell regulators what they think should be considered in the environmental review of a proposed coal export terminal near Bellingham, Wash.
If built, it could be the largest such facility on the West Coast. At maximum capacity, the Gateway Pacific Terminal would draw up to nine trains a day en route from mines in Wyoming and Montana. Bellingham Community Bill of Rights. BALLOT TITLE FOR CITY OF BELLINGHAM INITIATIVE No. 2012-2 City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2012-2 concerns the people’s right of self-government.
This measure would establish the sovereignty of Bellingham residents, the rights of natural communities, and rights to a sustainable energy future and a healthy climate; prohibit corporations from transporting coal in the City; deny legal personhood and constitutional rights to corporate violators; deny the use of federal and state preemptive law to corporate violators; deny the validity of contrary permits; authorize private party civil enforcement actions; and repeal all inconsistent provisions of existing City ordinances. “Should this measure be enacted into law?” Yes? ______ No? ______ Bellingham, WA Residents Don't Take Proposed Coal Train Shipments Lying Down.
Recently, Washington's Gov. Gregoire formalized plans to phase out the state's only remaining coal-fired power plant by 2025. Joining Oregon in its vision of a future without coal, the agreement sets the Pacific Northwest on the path to become the first coal-free region in the country . This is great news for those concerned about clean air, healthy lungs, and the stability of the global climate system.