Clean Water or Dirty Coal? Help Oregon decide

JASMINE ZIMMER-STUCKY

August 7, 2014

Why would anyone choose dirty coal over clean water?

But that’s how Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seems to be leaning in its evaluation of the water quality impacts of a proposed coal export terminal at the Port of Morrow. The agency's decision is due soon: Tell DEQ to do the right thing, and stop ignoring coal export’s impact on hundreds of miles of the Columbia River.

DEQ Can Stop Coal Export

The Clean Water Act calls for DEQ to conduct a broad review of the water quality impacts of Oregon’s only remaining coal export proposal. Agency officials will either approve or deny a 401 Water Quality Certification permit for Ambre Energy. Without that certification, the company can’t receive federal permits for coal export. That means that denying certification will stop this project in its dirty tracks.

But DEQ has not conducted a broad review. The agency is looking only at one small part of the coal export project – the coal dock construction at the Port of Morrow. The reality is that this project involves coal trains traveling over and along the Columbia River, thousands of coal barges every year, and a loading facility 219 miles downstream at Port Westward. So many communities stand to be affected by this proposed dirty coal project.

Act Now: Tell DEQ to Protect the Columbia River from Dirty Coal

Submit your comment to DEQ, and tell the agency to protect the entire Columbia River area from the impacts of coal export. Better yet, say it in person! DEQ is holding a public hearing on their proposed narrow scope of water quality impacts, and we need to be there.

WHAT: Public hearing on DEQ’s 401 Water Quality Certification for coal export
WHERE: Port of Morrow, 2 Marine Drive, Boardman, Oregon 97818
WHEN: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 6:00 – 9:00 PM, meet at 5:00 PM in the parking lot for a pre-hearing tailgate with food and drinks!

Hop on the free charter bus from Portland and Hood River!
Portland: Meet up at 12:30 PM at Holladay Park at the intersection of NE 13^th and Multnomah (across from the Lloyd Center Mall)
Hood River: Meet up at 2:00 PM at the Valaro Gas Station at exit 63 off I-84
Questions? Contact Jasmine@ColumbiaRiverkeeper.org or 503-929-5950

Thanks for submitting your comment to protect the Columbia River from dirty coal export. Hope to see you at the hearing on the 12^th!

Keep up your great work,

Author Bio

Joëlle Robinson

Field Director, Climate Solutions

Joëlle engages community members and diverse constituencies—faith, health, youth, parents, business—to make their voices heard for climate solutions. She led the team of organizers to ensure we stopped any coal export from the U.S. West Coast over the past decade. On offense, she co-led the Field team to help pass the 100% Clean Electricity (Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019) and in 2022 collaborated with the Field team to ensure that all new buildings (commercial and residential) will be built with heat pumps per the State Building Code Council. She continues to conspire for good with them on many other local and state initiatives.

Joëlle was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Previous work with Climate Solutions includes the NW Climate Connections partnership, serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign, and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which passed in April 2006.

She previously served on the boards of Earth Ministry, Solar Washington, and Sierra Club Executive Committee. She’s currently President of the board of her 3 year-old!

Joëlle is Northwest born and raised who loves to hike, dance, travel and explore the natural world.

Her favorite quote is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver