Shipping Terminal for Exporting Coal: Help Protect Cherry Point and Whatcom County

It makes little sense to transport coal across the U.S., and then ship to China, to enable China to burn it, polluting the air that will come back to us to breathe, and contributing to climate change that affects all of us. All so that China can make more consumer goods to sell back to us. Another reason to avoid this project: Depletion of fossil fuels will likely lead to the end of our globalized economy in the near future, making this project a boondoggle.

Please consider signing the petition started by RE Sources for Sustainable Communities.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protectcherrypoint/

Target: Washington State Elected Officials
Sponsored by: RE Sources for Sustainable Communities

This project will have serious economic, health, social, and ecological consequences to our community. If you are concerned about this issue and its negative impacts on Whatcom County, please read and sign onto RE Sources' position statement, and send a clear message to your local representatives. SSA Marine filed for state and federal permits to build a 54 million metric ton coal export facility at Cherry Point in Ferndale, Washington. SSA Marine's proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) projects storing up to 2.75 million metric tons of coal at a time in an open-air 80 acre stockpile.
Moving 48 million metric tons of coal in uncovered railcars is a tremendous undertaking requiring nine additional mile-and-a-half long trains traversing daily to and from Cherry Point through downtown Bellingham. In addition, to increased train noise, diesel exhaust, and traffic delays, the city and county will also have to deal with a significant increase in the amount of coal dust entering our neighborhoods and waterways.

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Permalink Reply by David MacLeod on March 13, 2011 at 10:12pm

Almost 500 signatories to this petition...

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Permalink Reply by Roseanne on March 16, 2011 at 12:46am

Also the deep water pier that needs to be built will impact the basic food source for marine animals which is herring. Cherry Point is a natural spawning habitat and it is estimated that this new pier will destroy herring which whales, eagles and much of the marine life in this area feeds on. This pier and the coal that will be shipped to China will destroy this area. Cherry Point is the last remaining area with deep enough waters to build the pier, which is why they are desparate! Warren Buffet has contributed millions to keep the port going forward because he has invested also in the railroad that will transport the coal, dust and all right through Bellingham.

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Permalink Reply by Heather K on March 16, 2011 at 5:42pm

It would be interesting to review who owns & controls the railroads, and historically, what rights local residents have claimed in regards to allowing railroad tracts to be built in their watersheds & what local residents allow (or don't allow) to be transported through their lands & waters.

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Permalink Reply by David MacLeod on April 5, 2011 at 7:05pm

Thanks to all of you who have signed the petition! 699 signatures at this moment, but they're trying for 1000. Let's help them meet that goal.