Currently the State of Washington and Whatcom County are considering an action plan that could have significant consequences for our area. The project is the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point. To get more information, below are links to several articles, videos and websites to help explain the project and it's potential impacts.

The Council had originally planned to pass a resolution supporting the project. Fortunately, with many thanks to Re Sources, a petition drive suceeded in getting the resolution removed from the agenda; however, the battle is not over. Read the articles, watch the videos, attend events and talk to your neighbors. If you oppose the project and haven't signed the petitions either at the ReSources website or at any of the events, sign the regional petition here. The original ReSources petition with over 1300 signatures is closed.

More importanly, contact the County Council at (360) 676-6690 or council@whatcom.wa.us and let them know where you stand. Also be sure to contact your state representative and the governor as this is a state supported initiative.

Whatcom County State Representatives are as follows:

District 42 Rep. Vincent Buys 204 Modular Building D PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7854 vincent.buys@leg.wa.gov Rep. Jason Overstreet 102 Modular Building A PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7980 jason.overstreet@leg.wa.gov Senator Doug Ericksen Olympia Office: 414 Legislative Building PO Box 40442 Olympia, WA 98504-0442 (360) 786-7682 doug.ericksen@leg.wa.gov

District 40 Sen. Kevin Ranker Olympia Office: 215 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40440 Olympia, WA 98504-0440 (360) 786-7678 Rep. Kristin Lytton Olympia Office: 310 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7800 Rep. Jeff Morris Olympia Office: 436A Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7970

Washington Federal Representatives are as follows:

Representative Susan DelBene, District 1 Shoreline Office: Shoreline Center 18560 1st Ave., NE Suite E-800 Shoreline, WA 98155-2150 (202) 225-6311 http://delbene.house.gov/ Representative Rick Larsen, District 2 Bellingham Office: Bellingham Towers 119 N. Commercial Street, Suite 1350 Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 786-7682 http://larsen.house.gov/

Senator Maria Cantwell Northwest Washington 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 9B Everett, WA 98201 Phone: 425-303-0114 http://cantwell.senate.gov/ Senator Patty Murray Everett Office: 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Ste. 903 Everett, Washington 98201 Phone: (425) 259-6515 http://murray.senate.gov/public/

Washington State Government Leaders are as follows:

Govenor Jay Inslee Website: http://www.governor.wa.gov Email: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp Office of the Governor 416 14th Ave. SW Ste. 200 PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 Phone: (360) 902-4111 Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark Website: http://www.dnr.wa.gov Email: cpl@dnr.wa.gov Department of Natural Resources 1111 Washington St. SE PO Box 47000 Olympia WA 98504-7000 Phone: (360) 902-1000 Department of Ecology Jeannie Summerhays Website: http://www.dnr.wa.gov Email: jsum461@ecy.wa.gov Northwest Regional Office: 1440 - 10th Street, Suite 102 Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360-715-5200

With the help of Resources, the Sierra Club, 350.org, Climate Solutions and numerous other organizations, this project is receiving national, even global attention. It will be very important, not only for Whatcom County but globally as well, that we pay very close attention to what happens here.

This page will be under constant updating and revisions, so keep checking back. If you have any additional information or planning your own events and want the advertised here, contact Deb Cruz at dwcruz@comcast.net.

Whatcom Planning Department Documents

For historical and current official documents and emails drafted concerning this project, check with the Whatcom County Planning and Development Services webpage (scroll to the bottom of the page).

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Permit Application (3/2012)

Pacific International Terminals, Inc. Major Project Pemit and Shoreline Develoment Permit, Supplemental Appications - Supplemental Information

For documents submitted by Whatcom Docs, see below:

• Appendix A: Pulmonary Impacts of Airborne Pollutants (including diesel particulate matter) (PDF, 152 KB)
  
• Download Appendix B: Health Impacts of Coal Dust (PDF, 94 KB)
  
• Download Appendix C: Cardiovascular Impacts of Airborne Pollutants (including particulate matter) (PDF, 86 KB)
  
• Download Appendix D: Health Impacts of Noise Pollution (PDF, 94 KB)
  
• Download Appendix E: Anticipated Impacts of Frequent Long Trains on Emergency Medical Service Response Times and Risk of Injuries at Crossings (PDF, 82 KB)

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Click here for detailed information

Gateway Pacific Terminal Environmental Impact Study Commenting Period September 2012 through January 2013

The commenting period for setting the scope of the environmental impact study on the Gateway Pacific Terminal and Custer Spur began September 24, 2012 and will run through January 21, 2013. This is the time for all citizens, regardless of whether you are for or against the terminal, to submit your comments as to how broad the EIS should be.

There will be a flurry of activity in the form of forums, presentations and workshops to assist people in writing comments that will be submitted for review by the WA Departmetn of Ecology, US Army Corps of Engineers and the Whatcom County Council.

Please be aware that any issue to be incorporated into the study, must be provided in writing. If the issue is not submitted during the commenting period, it will not become a part of the study, so do not assume that any issue is automatically included.

Comments written comments can be submitted to: comments@eisgatewaypacificwa.gov

More information concerning the EIS can be found at www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov

Here is the schedule of the remaining public hearings as published in the Federal Register.

At Spokane County Fairgrounds, 404 North Havana Street, Spokane Valley
December 4, 2012, from 4 to 7 p.m.

At Clark College, Graiser Student Center, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way,
December 12, 2012, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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GPT EIS Educational Forum Series

December 10, 2012
Aquatic and Marine Impacts
BUF, Sanctuary, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Co-sponsored by RE Sources and the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. Join us as we examine a number of the aquatic and marine impacts of the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal. The purpose of this forum is to provide Whatcom County residents with the necessary information to write effective comments for the EIS scoping process. Speaker/topics include:

Overview of the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve
Wendy Steffensen, Lead Scientist, North Sound Baykeeper Team

Wind-Blown Coal Dust at Cherry Point
Michael Riordan, Physicist and Author on science, technology and public policy

Impact on Cherry Point Herring Population
Fred Felleman, NW Consultant to Friends of the Earth

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December 14, 2012
Health Impacts
St. Luke's Community Education Health Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway
7:00 - 9:00 pm

Co-sponsored by RE Sources and the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. Join us as we examine a number of the health impacts of the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal. The purpose of this forum is to provide Whatcom County residents with the necessary information to write effective comments for the EIS scoping process. Speaker/topics include:

Overview of Various Health Impacts of the Gateway Pacific Terminal
Dr. Frank James, MD, Whatcom Docs

Health Impacts of Coal Export in the Northwest and the Myth of Clean Coal
Dr. Steven Gilbert, , PhD, DABT, Founder and Executive Director, Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders

Effects of Diesel Particulate Matter on Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health
Dr. Chad S. Weldy, Ph.D. Senior Fellow, Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Bellingham Community Bill Of Rights Update

The Bellingham Community Bill Of Rights has come upon its first hurdle. After the signature-gathering phase of the initiative, the initiative petition for the BCBR was submitted to the Auditor's Office for signature verfication. The Auditor's Office then forwarded the initiative onto the Bellingham City Council. Under normal circumstances, the Council has three options: 1) adopt the measure, 2) reject the measure or 3) submit a "substitute" measure.

The Bellingham City Council met in an Executive Session (not open to the public) and decided to forward the initiative onto the City's Prosecuting Attorney for reveiw. The PA determined that the initiative was administrative, not legislative, therefore it is not eligible to move forward onto the ballot. The Bellingham City Council has brought the initiative before the Court, so a final determination of whether or not the initiative can be put on the ballot will be determined by the Court.

Power Past Coal Has An Office on Holly St., Bellingham

Power Past Coal, a coalition of several organizations aimed at defeating the GPT, has recently opened an office at 215 W. Holly St. on the ground floor. They are looking for volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks and activities. If you are able to commit a few hours a week, contact Matt Petryni at mattp@re-sources.org.

Stand Up Whatcom! Is Coming Into Its Own

Stand Up Whatcom! is being organized to bring an initiative similar to the Bellingham Community Bill of Rights, to the whole County. While they're focused on settling a number of administrative and organizational issues, be on the lookout for lots of information and activities in the near future. If you are interested in finding out more about Stand Up Whatcom! contact either Suzanne Ravet at sustainablefoothills@gmail.com or Deb Cruz at dwcruz@comcast.net

Washington State Democratic Party Introduces Resolution to Caucus (April 2012)

TOn April 28, 2012, a "Resolution Regarding the Shipment of Coal from Washington's Shores" was brought before the Washington State Democratic Party at its caucus. The resolution opposes the permitting of coal terminals in Washington unless determined that there will be no net negative impact to the environment human health, and economy of the state and calls for State and Federal programmatic environmental impact studies and comprehensive Health and Economic Impact Assessments as part of the NEPA/SEPA processes. For more information read the resolution: 2012 Washington State Democratic Party Resolution.

League of Women Voters (Whatcom County) Position Paper

TThe League of Women Voters has drafted a position paper on climate change and coal terminals in the PNW. For more information read the resolution: Position Paper - West Coast Coal Terminals