Jan 11, 2017 - Coalition Against Coal Terminals Celebrate Major Victories

Last week, a coalition of Tribes, environmentalist, and climate justice activist celebrated two major victories over Big Coal in Washington State.

Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, announced two major blows to the coal industry.

First, Commissioner Goldmark rejected a request from Northwest Alloys to sublease the state’s aquatic lands to Millennium Bulk Terminals for a proposed coal export terminal project.

If built, the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminal would have become the largest coal export terminal in North America. The terminal would have been built in Longview, WA along the Columbia River.

The project was opposed by regional Tribe’s due to the coal trains and proposed terminals impact on traditional lands and waterways.

Protect Salish Sea advocates occupy rail lines in Seattle to oppose coal and oil export trains (summer 2014).

Secondly, the Commissioner, at the request of the Lummi Nation, expanded an aquatic reserve to now include Cherry Point, which will further protect lands that Big Coal previously sought to build a coal export terminal. The expanded aquatic reserve will provide more permanent protections to Cherry Point.

Last year, the same coalition of Tribes and environmentalist celebrated the defeat of another proposed coal export terminal, the Gateway Pacific.

Healing pole carved by Jewell James (Lummi) traveled from South Dakota to Alberta Tar Sands to bring communities together in fight against coal and oil exports.

by Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ (Matt Remle)