Blog post by Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, Riverkeeper’s Community Organizer—
May 30, 2014. On Friday, May 30, 2014, the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) announced that it will delay a permit decision for Ambre Energy’s struggling Morrow Pacific coal export project along the Columbia River until August 18, 2014. This is the eighth time that the permit has been delayed. On the heels of Ambre Energy’s repeated failures to provide DSL with adequate information and analysis about the project scope and impacts, the decision represents yet another blow for Ambre’s coal export proposal.
“Once again Ambre Energy has asked for delay on one of their permits to barge dirty coal through the Columbia River Gorge for an unprecedented eighth time! We in the City of Mosier call on the State of Oregon to deny this permit once and for all,” said Arlene Burns, city council president in Mosier, Oregon.
In March, the State of Oregon notified Ambre Energy that its controversial proposed coal export terminal requires a state land lease because the site is located on state-owned land in the Columbia. The requirement to obtain a state land lease for Ambre Energy’s dangerous coal export project was the latest in a series of setbacks for the struggling company. Oregon leaders continue to show firm opposition to coal exports, including a statement in April from Governor Kitzhaber that, “it’s time to say NO to coal exports in Oregon”.
“The Governor’s statement reflects the risks posed to Oregon families, businesses, and health. We stand with the Governor on his leadership on coal exports – there is no place for coal in a healthy, prosperous future for our state,” said Brett Vandenheuval, executive director for Columbia Riverkeeper.
Ambre Energy is plagued by financial questions and has made little progress in obtaining state or federal permits for its coal export terminal. Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Ambre Energy’s proposal to build the coal export terminal will require an additional permit known as a 401 Water Quality Certification. DEQ received a record breaking 16,500 public comments on Ambre’s proposal to export 8.8 million tons of coal through Northwest communities and along the Columbia River.
In 2011, a legal challenge to the Ambre proposal in Longview, Washington, exposed internal documents showing that Ambre and their U.S. subsidiary Millennium Bulk Logistics lied to Cowlitz County and state officials about the size of their project, claiming it would ship five million tons per year when they planned a project more than 10 times that size. Following the controversy, Ambre withdrew its permit and in 2012 filed a permit for a terminal that would handle 44 million tons of coal per year.
Throughout Oregon and across the Northwest, thousands of business owners, tribal governments, elected officials, medical professionals, faith leaders and others have demanded that Governor Kitzhaber and the DSL protect Oregon families and frontline communities from the dangers of coal exports.
“Oregon State agencies like the DSL need to continue to give these projects the full scrutiny they deserve – we’re glad they’re not taking this decision lightly due to the terrible harm it poses. Governor Kitzhaber and so many other Oregon leaders have voiced their objection to this dangerous and costly project. Northwest families deserve and will accept nothing less than leadership that protects our health, safety, economy, and climate. The threats of coal exports are far too risky for Oregon families, our economies, our heritage and the precious natural resources we all share,” said Cesia Kearns, co-director of the Power Past Coal coalition.
Over the past few months, more than 25,000 citizens have contacted Governor Kitzhaber requesting a denial of the permit. Earlier this year, nearly 90 elected officials from Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho urged Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and the DSL to protect frontline communities throughout the Northwest by rejecting a permit for Ambre Energy’s proposed Morrow Pacific coal export project. Additionally, over 3,000 medical professionals and public health advocates contacted Oregon decision-makers to urge rejection of the Ambre Energy permit. Close to 600 Northwest businesses and business leaders have also either expressed concern or outright opposition to coal export.
Take Action Today! A letter to the editor about this delay will go a long way! Here are talking points for your letter.
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POWER PAST COAL is an ever-growing alliance of health groups, businesses and environmental, clean-energy, faith and community organizations working to stop coal export off the West Coast. Visit www.powerpastcoal.org for more information.
