Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point - a proposed Coal Export Terminal

If you are concerned about the community health impacts of having North America's largest Coal Export Terminal at Cherry Point, then we need your help!

To ensure that the "best science available" is utilized to determine these impacts a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) must be done.

A team of the Pacific Northwest's leading public health researchers, led by Dr. Melissa Ahern of Washington State University, has put forward just such a study. WSU scientists will collaborate with experts at UW School of Public Health and Oregon Public Health Institute. The proposed HIA will analyze the comprehensive health impacts of the GPT at the Cherry Point terminal site, and the cumulative impacts along the entire transportation corridor from the Powder River Basin to Whatcom County and other proposed ports. It is entitled "Proposed Regional Strategic Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Potential Impacts Related to Multiple Proposed Coal Export Terminals in Washington and Oregon"

This HIA study is being supported by the PEW Charitable Trust, which has provided $150,000 contingent upon additional funding to be raised by the affected communities. The cities of Seattle, Spokane, Edmonds, Marysville and Sumner, as well as Multnomah and King Counties, have collectively contributed an additional $100,000. The total cost of the HIA will be $300,000, thus $50,000 still needs to be raised. The final application is due May 31st, 2013, leaving only 12 days to raise these funds.

An independent and comprehensive Health Impact Assessment for the proposed coal terminals is absolutely critical to help guide our communities and decision-makers as we move forward. Who better to help fund this than the community that needs the information?

Whatcom Community Foundation has opened a fund where donations can be sent. The donations are 100% tax deductible and you will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the Foundation for your tax purposes.

We can do this with everyone chipping in a small amount! If 2,000 people each donate $25, we will completely fund the remainder of the study.

Please consider donating $15, $25, $50 or $100! Or more if you can!

Here's how to send your TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION (2 options):

1. Write a check to "Whatcom Community Foundation". In the Memo line of bottom left write: "Coal Export Health Study" Send to: Whatcom Community Foundation, 119 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 You will receive a letter of acknowledgement for tax purposes.

2. On-line: Go to http://www.whatcomcf.org Click on the GREEN "Make a Donation" tab. Then click the RED "Donate" Tab. At the bottom, under Credit Card information, type "Coal Export Health Study" in the Special Instructions box. That will ensure your donation gets to the right fund. You will receive a letter of acknowledgement for tax purposes

Please be part of this great effort! Forward to your friends!

Click Here to read about this proposal in more detail

The three agencies heading this process and links to their websites are listed below.

• WA State Dept of Ecology

• United States Army Corp of Engineers

• Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Department

• Read letters from the League and City of Bellingham

Coalfilm.com Video Channel CoalFilm, LLC is creating a documentary about the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point in Washington state. Please visit their video channel to watch various excerpts from the documentary in process including an excellent overview of the EIS taken from an interview with Jean Melious, Professor of Environmental Studies at WWU, and a partner in a national law firm with 25 years experience in Environmental Impact Assessments. All content is produced by CoalFilm, LLC.

LWV of Bellingham/Whatcom County Position Paper on the Exporting of Coal ~ submitted to the League of Women Voters of the United States, June 2011

Coal Dust at Roberts Bank

Civility Pledge for Coal Issue Discussions

5-16-12 - Comments to Whatcom County regarding the GPT Application

Letter to the Editor, March 18, 2012

Public Statement to Whatcom County Planning Commission ~ made at meeting considering adoption of a new experimental Low Impact Development Program, December 8, 2011

Press Release: No New Agreement on Proposed Cherry Point Terminal

Statement on Cherry Point from the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County at a public meeting held by the Sierra Club

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County respectfully suggests that certain protocols be considered in providing information for the public process for the Gateway Pacific Terminal. As suggested by County Executive Jack Louws, we sent these protocols in writing to the regulatory agencies involved on April 10, 2012.

Based on the high level of anxiety expressed at the pre-scoping meeting about the ability of the public to get information about the project, access to the web sites and clear parameters on the information should be a first priority.

It is the League's position that a well thought out public process will be beneficial in that it allows the public to focus on the project itself, not on the process.

In light of budget constraints and the fact that a project this size would overwhelm any local planning department, it is the League's positiion that the cost of making the details of this project public, should be borne by the applicant.

EIS Protocols recommended by the LWV of Bellingham/Whatcom County for the proposed GPT project

The Environmental Review Process Public Meeting for the Proposed Cherry Point Terminal - March 20, 2012 ~ Thanks to Robert Clark of the Coalition for Community Television for videotaping the March 20, 2012 Proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal Pre-Scoping Meeting which was hosted by Whatcom County, Washington Department of Ecology and the Governor's Office of Regulatory Assistance. Presenters provided an overview of the Environmental Review Process and responded to questions from the audience.

Heavy Traffic Ahead: Rail Impacts of Powder River Basin Coal to Asia, for the first time, identifies costs, many of which will fall on taxpayers for infrastructure due to increased rail traffic - study commissioned by the Western Organization of Resource Councils

Coal Train Facts Great informational website giving information on both sides of the coal export pier debate.

Cherry Point Timeline For details regarding Cherry Point from 1954 until 2010.