Your comment is valuable. Impacts upon Montanans should be considered: Public hearings on the EIS should be held in Montana; impacts of increased rail traffic upon Montanans should be included in the analysis.
Most importantly, the consequence of greatly expanded fossil fuel burning upon climate change should be detailed in the EIS. Concern for our global climate increases as atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuels continues to increase and its affects upon our cities, farms, and water resources become magnified.
Comment on the scope of the EIS can be made:
* Via the official website established by the three agencies for the EIS process: www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov.
* By email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
* By mail: GPT/Custer Spur EIS, 1100 112th Ave. NE, Suite 400, Bellevue, WA 98004.
An explanation of EIS and scoping process is here: www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov/
Friends of 2 Rivers submitted the following letter:
9 January 2013
GPT/Custer Spur EIS
1100 112th Ave. NE Suite 400
Bellevue, WA 98004
Re: Scoping for the Gateway Pacific Terminal (Cherry Point) EIS
Dear Sirs,
The agencies conducting the Gateway Terminal EIS must reach far beyond local
considerations of the proposed development. It is unthinkable that the security of the United
States and of the Planet Earth should be compromised by failing to fully address all related
impacts and consequences. Each party in the chain of fossil fuel use, from leasing of the
ground, extraction, transportation, refining, and final burning bears responsibility for the
ultimate global consequences of heavily magnified releases of CO2. To fail to identify and
fully evaluate these consequences, is unacceptable if we are to bequeath a livable planet to
future generations.
The EIS should:
1. Include the State of Montana in its scope. The coal would be mined in Montana, negatively affecting natural/agricultural resources—although positively affecting state financial return. How do the losses compare with the gains?
2. Evaluate the impact of increased coal train traffic on Montana communities. What would be the frequency and duration of RR crossing blockage? What is the probability of seriously impacting the delivery of emergency services? What is the extent of inconvenience likely to be experienced by commuters, commercial vehicles, and personal transportation?
3. Quantify and evaluate impacts of burning of exported Montana coal over the expected 30-year life of the Asian power plants upon: a) global air quality and b)
climate change caused by increases in atmospheric CO2. Ninety-seven percent of the world’s climate scientists agree that burning of fossil fuels is the primary driving force for climate change. How long can we, as current stewards of the Earth, allow the climate to be changed, before consequences result in irreversible, long-term environmental and societal instability for future generations? How will
the national security of the United States of America be affected by conditions of rising sea levels, drought, and catastrophic weather events expected to result from allowing current trends in climate change to continue?
Sincerely,
Warren Hampton, President
For Friends of 2 Rivers Board
P.O. Box 396 Milltown, Montana 59851 www.friendsof2rivers.org Phone (406) 370-6584
