Hundreds of people are expected to attend a public meeting tonight on a proposed coal terminal near Bellingham. Such a terminal could bring a dramatic increase in the size and frequency of coal trains through our area, which has many people worried about coal dust coming off the uncovered loads, derailments, traffic tie-ups and the risk of pollution to waterways. As a result, the Army Corps of Engineers has been requested to do a study on the impacts the terminal could have.
Tonight’s meeting, at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center at 4 p.m., is to discuss what all the study should cover. Many protestors and others are expected to show up though and a rally is planned prior to the meeting. The Spokesman-Review has more on that.
Representatives from SRTC will attend that meeting to learn more about the study and the possible impacts of additional coal trains through the area on transportation, such as on the delay to vehicles waiting at rail road crossings and the effect on air pollution.