State Senate bill would fast-track coal exports

Please take 2 minutes before you start your day to call the toll-free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000, and ask your Senator to vote no on Senate Bill 5805. This bill would fast-track permitting for mega-projects like coal export facilities in Bellingham and Longview and the Pit-to-Pier gravel mine on Hood Canal.

Your Senator needs to hear from you before casting his or her vote today. Please call 1-800-562-6000 and ask your Senator and Representatives to: “Please oppose Senate Bill 5805. Coal export and other harmful industrial proposals should not be fast-tracked.”

SB 5805 changes a little-used provision of state law to expedite the review and permitting for projects of statewide significance. Currently, for a project to be designated as a project of statewide significance, it has to at least provide a net environmental benefit and be supported by the local city or county government. Senate Bill 5805 removes both of these requirements.

This bill would have a devastating impact on Puget Sound by fast-tracking a huge gravel mine and new 1000’ pier in the Hood Canal. The so-called Pit-to-Pier project would ship tons of gravel and sand each year on barges as large as a football field, right through the heart of the fragile ecosystem in Hood Canal.

And major gravel mines and piers aren’t the only types of projects that could be fast-tracked under this proposal. According to the bill, coal export terminals would also be eligible for fast-tracked permitting.

Over 100,000 citizens just commented on the Cherry Point coal export proposal, raising concerns including including health impacts, traffic disruption, public safety, air pollution, oil spills and climate pollution. Expedited permitting could disenfranchise you and your neighbors, preventing your concerns from being heard and addressed.

This bill is scheduled for a Senate vote today. Please call 1-800-562-6000 now and ask your Senator and two Representatives to “Please oppose Senate Bill 5805.  Coal export and other harmful industrial proposals should not be fast-tracked.”

Thank you for speaking up,
Joan

Joan Crooks
Executive Director