Comment EI-19961
Received or sent (printed as 1/12/2013)
The Mission Statement for Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality is to: “…protect, sustain, and improve a clean and healthful environment to benefit present and future generations.” Washington State’s Department of Ecology is similar. It reads: “…to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.” How then can either state approve a coal train endeavor that delivers coal to China, where it is burned unclean; and when winds from there come back to the western portion of the U.S., residents in Washington and other areas will breathe contaminated air? One would think polluted air will impact water and soils, as well. There is an abundant supply of pollutants in the earth’s air already - why keep adding to it? Why do “we” continue to endanger ourselves and others so that a few get even wealthier? Clean energy solutions have been around for quite awhile. One might also think that the above mission statements would support the development of these solutions. Otherwise, perhaps the mission statements should be changed to include: “… benefit present/current and future generations as long as there is money to be made by those who don’t care about the environment.” It seems agencies that started out with good intentions have been co-opted. I am the 4th of 6 generations who owns and operates small, organic farms here in Washington State. I have seen vast and unhealthy changes in the environment here for many years. Certain people act as though we can be in decline “forever” without consequence. Air pollution from coal & exhausts, noise pollution, light pollution – they affect us all. And, what about natural events beyond our control that could impact this coal train proposal? Earthquakes, mud slides, and weather can play a significant part to the detriment of coal transport and hence the environment. Pollution affects everybody – from those with a small voice to those in power, making laws, making even more money, and breaking laws. Please do not expand the Tongue River Railroad for the sake of coal. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Submitted by: Andrea Xaver · Mt Vernon, Washington
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-30186/comment/EI-19961 · back to the docket sheet