Political Leadership Questioning Coal Trains Goes South Will Bellingham’s Mayor Bring It Back North?

by Preston Schiller

In a lengthy January 31, 2012, letter to Whatcom County Executive Jack Louws and Washington State Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant, King County Executive Dow Constantine expressed numerous concerns about the wider impacts of the Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) proposal as well as questioning its wisdom in a time of deep anguish about global warming and globalized air pollution.

Specifically Executive Constantine said, “I’m concerned about the significant impacts of this proposal on air, water, energy and natural resources, environmental health, land and shoreline use, public services, and transportation in communities along the rail corridor. … the [GPT] proposal has broader implications for increased climate pollution .…” Constantine’s letter was also circulated to numerous other elected officials and agency directors. The letter may be found at coaltrainfacts.org.

According to Sierra Club field organizer, Robin Everett, “The cities of Edmonds, Mosier, Washougal, Camas and Bainbridge have passed resolutions against the project. Other government agencies, such as the Mount Vernon city Council, the Port of Skagit, the Skagit County Commission, and the Burlington city Council have written letters of strong concern. Other mayors that have spoken against the proposal are Seattle Mayor, Mike McGinn, and Marysville Mayor, Jon Nehrig.”

Meanwhile at Ground Zero for coal terminal-coal trains impacts, a.k.a. Bellingham, Mayor Kelli Linville has been curiously quiet about these issues during her first 60 days in office. Cascadiaweekly.org March 13 “Kelli @ 60” reports on her 60th day report to the Bellingham City Council. Organizational changes that might save the city some money, i.e. budgetary discipline, Lake Whatcom action coordination, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), capital facilities — especially in relation to a new library and the waterfront redevelopment were touched upon but, curiously, not GPT nor its many impacts that could shape some of the above-listed items. Given this omission I contacted Herzzoner with a few questions about coal-related developments during her first 60 days and her replies are presented here:

Background: Communitywise Bellingham has sponsored the report: “The Impact of the Development of the Gateway Pacific Terminal on the Whatcom County Economy.” The report indicates that the overall impact of the GPT project would be negative in terms of causing Bellingham to lose more jobs, income (from tourism and attraction of new businesses) and public revenues than would come from the GPT. Further, the study only considers direct economic impacts and does not examine general environmental and quality of life impacts.

Whatcom Watch Question: Could you please share with us your reactions to this report?

Mayor Kelli Linville: I attended the presentation of the (Communitywise Bellingham) report. I think that it showed a lot of uncertainty on the economic side—sort of “our best guess.” (On the other hand) I did not feel that the proponents’ (GPT) economics were enough to justify exporting coal.

Background: King County Executive Dow Constantine and other jurisdictions and their leaders along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) corridor continue to weigh in with concerns about the potential negative impacts of the GPT project and its concomitant large increase in train traffic through their communities.

Whatcom Watch Question: Could you please share with us your reactions to Executive Constantine’s recent actions? Do you intend to continue Bellingham’s effort to influence the GPT Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process?

Mayor Kelli Linville: I was not aware of Dow’s letter but I will read it and get in touch with him. It would be important for the King County Council to weigh in on this issue. I helped to create the MAP (Multi-Agency Permitting) process while I was in State Government. I believe that the city of Bellingham should be included in the scoping process and that the scope should be widened to include local (off-site) and global impacts. This is not an issue just for the executive, not completely within my role. The city Council has already weighed in on scoping and impacts and the city is monitoring the legal process. I am willing to write another letter to the officials with the council and staff to ensure all our concerns are identified. Right now I see the (Whatcom) County Council as the most important body to influence, due to their local authority over shorelines and major project permits.

Background: Coal-Free Belling-ham has launched an initiative drive aimed at passing a city ordinance banning the passage of coal trains through Bellingham.

Whatcom Watch Question: Could you please share with us your reactions to this initiative? If passed by voters, how would the city enforce it?

Mayor Kelli Linville: I believe that the initiative would not be sustained (legally). I won’t stand in its way but I won’t endorse it. If we want to change the laws governing this (railway practices) we need to address those at the federal level — where they are enacted. As an individual I have demonstrated against the Vietnam War and marched with striking teachers, but as an official I have to uphold the law. But I will seek the advice of the city attorney on this matter (of city rights-of-way used by BNSF).

Background: Several years ago BNSF arbitrarily closed and blocked the pedestrian and bicycle crossing between Boulevard Park and Boulevard Trail. Many citizens protested this and Mayor Mark Asmundson (now head of the Northwest Clean Air Agency) led a demonstration there and authorized city officials to breach the BNSF barriers. Mayor Asmundson pointed out that there were several city rights-of-way that BNSF was currently using without authorization and that if they insisted on keeping citizens from using this crossing he would look into blocking the railway from using some of the city-owned rights-of-way.

Whatcom Watch Question: Does that establish a precedent for city of Bellingham action on this issue?

Mayor Kelli Linville: The city will defend our legal rights as a matter of how we do business.

Watchers: It’s now up to you to hold Mayor Linville to her opposition to coal export, her willingness to write a letter to the major agencies involved and, then, to try to have her expand her horizons to include more active and open opposition to the proposed GPT project.