Seattle CityCouncil Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing Coal Transport
Published on Tue, May 29, 2012 by Krista Collard Northwest Regional Press Secretary Beyond Coal- Sierra ClubRead More County & State
*Seattle City Council Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing Coal
Transport<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=241552.0&dlv_id=0>
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*Local residents applaud council for making Seattle tenth city to
officially raise concerns with coal export proposals*
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*Seattle-*Today, over 100 Washington residents gathered at City Hall for a
press conference to urge Council members to vote in support of a
resolution<http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s3=31379&s2=&s4=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect5=RESNY&Sect6=HITOFF&d=RESF&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fresny.htm&r=1&f=G>opposing
coal transport across Washington and through the City of Seattle.
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*Minister Carla Payne, Founding Director of Earth Ministry*, inspired the
crowd at City Hall saying, “In Seattle, we have always worked together to
make things better, looking to the future to create a better world for all
God’s children. People of faith urge the Seattle City Council to pass a
resolution to oppose coal export, and stand up to big coal companies on
behalf of God’s Creation and on behalf our children’s future.”
What proved to be a resounding message from local residents, an hour later
the Seattle City Council unanimously passed the
resolution,<http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s3=31379&s2=&s4=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect5=RESNY&Sect6=HITOFF&d=RESF&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fresny.htm&r=1&f=G>leading
*Council member Mike O’Brien* to say, “This resolution is very important in
protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Seattle families and
businesses from these coal export proposals.”
With the passage of this resolution, the City of Seattle adds its name to
the growing list of communities around the Northwest region officially
raising concerns about the six coal export proposals currently facing
Washington and Oregon. Seattle joins Washington cities Camas, Washougal,
Bainbridge Island, Edmonds, Stevenson and Marysville in passing similar
resolutions.
“The Sierra Club opposes coal exports because mining, transporting and
burning coal fouls our air, pollutes our water, sickens our children, and
destroys the environment,” said *Andy Lewis, Chair of the Washington
Chapter of the Sierra Club.* “Now is the time for communities to weigh in
and ensure that every impact to our health, environment, and local
economies is considered when these proposals are considered.”
The potential health impacts of a massive increase in coal trains chugging
through our local parks and neighborhoods is considerable, as well as the
impacts of burning this coal overseas. Explains *Dr. Rich Grady, surgeon,
Pediatric Urology at Children’s Hospital and President of Washington
Physicians for Social Responsibility*, “The effects of coal export are
local – up to 18 trains a day will increase the release of significant
amounts of airborne pollutants from diesel engines and coal dust. The
increased train traffic will also cause significant delays at many rail
crossings, increased risk of vehicle and pedestrian injuries along the
tracks, and increased noise pollution.
“We feel the risks to human health from massive coal shipments across our
state and through our communities are significant, and we call for a
comprehensive Health Impact Assessment, in addition to an Environmental
Impact Statement, addressing these issues along the entire rail corridor.”
The PowerPastCoal coalition is an ever-growing alliance of health,
environmental, clean-energy, faith and community groups working to stop
coal export off the West Coast.
For more information, go to www.powerpastcoal.org or
www.coalfreenorthwest.org. <http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/nw/>
