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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 Washington state deals blow to plan for coal export terminal Project pitched for Longview By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. — A company that wants to build and operate a large terminal to export coal from the western U.S. to Asia was denied a key permit by Washington state on Tuesday because of environ- mental concerns. The Department of Ecology rejected a water quality permit that Millennium Bulk Termi- nals sought because the pro- posed facility near Longview would have caused “signifi - cant and unavoidable harm” to the environment. The depart- ment cited effects to air qual- ity, noise pollution and tribal resources, among others. “There are simply too many unavoidable and nega- tive environmental effects for the project to move forward,” Ecology Director Maia Bellon said in a statement. Millennium Bulk Termi- nals has long hoped to build a facility along the Columbia River to handle up to 44 mil- lion tons of coal a year. Trains would carry the coal from Montana, Wyoming and other states, which would be loaded onto ships headed to Asia. William Chapman, the president and CEO of Mil- lennium, said the company will appeal the decision and expects “a fairer and more consistent interpretation of the law.” AP Photo/Elaine Thompson The Washington Department of Ecology said Tuesday it rejected a water quality permit that Millennium Bulk Termi- nals wanted because the proposed facility near Longview in southwest Washington state would have caused ‘signif- icant and unavoidable harm’ to the environment. “Multiple recent deci- sions by the agency seem biased against the Longview community, and particularly blind to the need for employ- ment opportunities in Cowlitz County,” he said in a written statement. Environmentalists, tribes and others have fi ercely opposed the project — which could increase U.S. exports of coal by 40 percent — because of concerns about global warming, coal dust pollution and potential damage to fi sh- eries on the river. Several of those groups lauded Tuesday’s decision. “The state did the right thing today, standing up for clean water, public health and the Pacifi c Northwest’s iconic endangered salmon runs,” Power Past Coal co-director Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky said in a statement. Boost local economy Businesses, some labor groups and other support- ers say the project would cre- ate jobs, add tax revenue and boost the local economy. The governor of Wyoming, the nation’s leading coal-produc- ing state, previously traveled to the Pacifi c Northwest to pitch the importance of coal exports to the governors of Washington and Oregon. Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business, criticized the pro- cess that led to the decision, saying that the project has faced “unprecedented regula- tory hurdles.” “We need companies to invest in manufacturing, construction and infrastruc- ture to support trade,” he wrote in a prepared state- ment. “Instead of turning away investment, our lead- ers should be encouraging responsible growth.” Montana’s attorney gen- eral said he plans to review the decision to make sure the law has been followed. Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said that despite Washington’s decision, “Wyoming will con- tinue to work towards a plan that allows for the safe trans- portation of coal through coastal ports.” An environmental review released in April by Wash- ington’s ecology department and Cowlitz County analyzed potential harm to fi sh habitat, wetlands, water quality, local communities and more. Of 23 environmental areas, 19 would face harmful effects, and some could not be offset or reduced, offi cials said at the time. The review found that coal dust pollution from trains would not be major because emissions levels would be below state and federal standards, but pollution from locomotives would raise the cancer risk for one low-in- come neighborhood. Noise and traffi c Residents also would see more noise and traffi c delays at rail crossings without a quiet zone or other measures, the study said. At full capacity, the project would add 16 more trains through the area and increase the number of ships by 1,680 a year. Gov. Jay Inslee said he was confi dent that state ecology offi cials “based their decision on sound science and in accor- dance with the law.” Oregon lodging lobby sues Bend over tourism budget use Associated Press BEND — An Oregon lob- bying group and two hotels are suing Bend claiming the city violated state law by using a portion of its budget earmarked for tourism mar- keting on street repair. The Bulletin reported Groups sue Washington state to stop wolf kills that the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association filed the lawsuit Tuesday as a result of the Bend City Council’s decision in May to spend about $350,000 of the $3.5 million bud- geted for tourism on road maintenance. Association President Jason Brandt says state law prohibits the city from decreasing the amount it spends on tourism as the state requires a certain per- centage of room taxes to go to tourism marketing. Assistant City Attorney Ian Leitheiser says the city’s actions comply with state law as the tourism market- ing allocation is above the 30 percent requirement. In Astoria, the city has used tourism promotion money to help pay for park maintenance and related services, arguing that tour- ists use city parks and other resources. Warrenton searching for replacement for public works director By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — War- renton is on the hunt for a new public works director. Jim Dunn, who held the position for just over a year, put in his notice in early Sep- tember. His last day with the city was Sept. 14. City Engi- neer Collin Stelzig has taken over as interim public works director until the city hires a replacement. As public works direc- tor, Dunn oversaw the city’s largest department, with 19 full-time employees. The department is responsible for collecting and treating waste- water, providing drinking water, maintaining sewer and storm water systems as well as the city’s dikes and 10 Man goes missing while picking mushrooms Associated Press TILLAMOOK — Author- ities from multiple agencies are searching for a 49-year- old man who was reported missing after he didn’t return from picking mushrooms in the Tillamook State Forest. KGW-TV reported Michael Scott Lund was reported miss- ing by a friend Monday. The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Offi ce says Lund was in the area of Drift Creek Forest Road about 30 miles east of Tillamook. Lund was described as a 5-foot-10, 220-pound white man with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray fl annel shirt, tan pants and a baseball hat. The sheriff’s offi ce says Lund doesn’t have food or water for an extended stay in the wilderness. Lund’s family says he doesn’t suffer from health or psychological issues. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Consult a P rofessional Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. — Two conservation groups have fi led a lawsuit that seeks to stop Washington state from killing more wolves. The lawsuit was fi led by The Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wild- lands in Thurston County Superior Court. It asserts that the Washing- ton Department of Fish and Wildlife’s killing of wolves in two packs in the northeast- ern part of the state relied on a faulty protocol and failed to undergo required environmen- tal analysis. According to the lawsuit, Fish and Wildlife offi cials adopted a revised “wolf-live- stock interaction protocol” in June for determining when to kill wolves in response to live- stock confl icts. The lawsuit claims the pro- tocol provided for the state to kill wolves more quickly than in prior years and was adopted without public input or envi- ronmental review, in violation of the state’s Environmental Policy and Administrative Pro- cedure Acts. “Reasonable minds can dif- fer on when we should and should not be killing wolves, and whether the killing of the wolves in these two packs was justifi ed,” Nick Cady, legal director for Cascadia Wildlands, said in a news release. “But there is no question that we should be fully analyzing the effi cacy of these actions, welcoming public and scientifi c input, and be able to hold the state accountable.” Agency spokesman Bruce Botka said offi cials haven’t had the opportunity to review the lawsuit and don’t have an immediate response. Offi cials have said previ- ously that they authorize incre- mental lethal control of wolves in accordance with established protocols after nonlethal pre- vention techniques fail. miles of levees. The depart- ment also oversees sanitation and recycling services and maintains trails and streets. City Manager Linda Eng- bretson said she is in the middle of looking over the job description and talking with staff about the qualities they desire in the next public works director. The city is juggling mul- tiple development projects with its small staff and Eng- bretson said it is important to get someone in place soon. But, she added, “I really want to make sure I do this right. … We want to make sure we get the right person.” Though Engbretson has long been involved in the hir- ing process during her time with the city, this will be her fi rst department head hire as city manager. can I open a link Q: How to a new page and not LEO FINZI Astorias Best.com N eed emergeNcy oN - site repair NoW! J ust call . M-F 10-6 Sat . 11-4 77 11th Street, Suite H Astoria, OR 503-325-2300 lose my place on my original web page? 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