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transport tips Building a Coal Terminal in the Pacific Northwest BY DAVE GAMBREL In Washington state several coal exporting projects have been proposed in recent years. Stevedoring Services of America (SSA), a respected Seattle-based firm since 1949, has partnered with coal producer Peabody Energy to propose Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point near existing deep water terminals. Ambre Energy has proposed Millennium Terminal at Longview, and Rail America has proposed a Gray's Harbor Project at Hoquiam. Ambre Energy has also proposed a rail-to-barge terminal at Port of Morrow near Boardman, Ore.; a downstream business partner (KinderMorgan) would unload the barges and load ships at Port Westward Terminal near St. Helens, Ore. The Port of Coos Bay is studying a locally sponsored coal terminal at Coos Bay. Some projects have fallen by the wayside; others appear to be in a state of hibernation. Gateway Pacific Terminal Gateway Pacific Terminal, a deepwater, multimodal terminal for the export and import of dry bulk commodities between rail and ocean-going vessels, has been proposed within the Cherry Point Industrial Urban Growth Area near Bellingham. The project area would encompass approximately 1,500 acres with development occurring on approximately 334 acres. If approved, the proposal would include two materials handling and storage areas and a wharf and trestle. Associated development would include a rail connection and improvements with BNSF Railway's Custer Spur Industrial rail line. At full operation, the facility would have the capacity to export and import 54 million metric tons per year of dry bulk commodities including, but not limited to coal, grain products, potash and calcined petroleum coke. Pacific International Terminals has submitted development applications to Whatcom County and other agencies. In 1997, Whatcom County issued a shoreline substantial development permit and a major development permit for construction and operation of the terminal. Because of changes to the size and scope 22 www.coalage.com Figure 1: Location of Proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (Source: BNSF) of the proposal, the county has determined that a new shoreline permit is required for the project. The project must undergo a full environmental review before the company can obtain a new shoreline permit or other permits required for the project. More than 9,000 people participated during in-person scoping meetings in November and December 2012. In total, more than 124,000 scoping comments were collected between September 24, 2012, and January 22, 2013. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Ecology and Whatcom County will conduct a coordinated environmental review of the Pacific International and BNSF applications under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The agencies have determined that the proposed export terminal and associated rail expansion require an environmental impact statement (EIS). The lead agencies are responsible for identifying and evaluating how the proposed project would affect the environment. Ecology will ensure the environmental reviews consider potential statewide effects of the project. Remaining steps in the environmental review process and estimated timelines are: September 24, 2012, to January 21, 2013—Scoping and deciding what factors to analyze and what geographic area to consider: This step was recently com- pleted. For details, please see www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov. Begin preparing draft EIS: The contractor, under the direction of the co-lead agencies, will prepare the draft EIS according to the results of the scoping process. The purpose of an EIS is to provide the public and agency decision makers with information on likely adverse effects of a proposed project, as well as reasonable alternatives and measures to reduce those effects. 2014 or later—Issue draft EIS, open public comment period, have public hearing: The draft EIS will be circulated so that the public and other agencies are given an opportunity to comment on its accuracy and content before it is finalized. The public will be invited to a public hearing about the draft EIS. The co-lead agencies will consider and respond to public comments in the final EIS. 2014 or 2015—Issue final environmental impact statement: The final EIS will include responses to the comments made on the draft EIS. The Futurewise Direction It would be extremely difficult to review 124,000 comments, and to develop a set of directions for the EIS process. Futurewise is a Seattle-based organization "working throughout Washington State to create livable communities, protect our working farmlands, forests and April 2013