Once the coal reaches the terminal, it’s unloaded in a fully enclosed area. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) says — “As the tandem rotary dumper rotates the rail cars and begins to unload the coal into hoppers beneath the dumper, sprayers would spray water to avoid and minimize dust dispersion within the enclosed structure.” The coal will be off-loaded indoors.

The DEIS goes on to say, “A network of belt conveyors would transport coal from the rail car unloading facilities to the stockpile area, and from the stockpile area to the vessel-loading facilities, or from rail cars directly to the vessel-loading facilities. Belt conveyors and transfer stations would be fully enclosed, except for the stockpile area and vessel loading conveyors, which would be open due to their operational requirements.”

The DEIS detailed further: “The coal stockpile area would have a dust-suppression system. Vessels would be loaded using ship-loaders that would include enclosed boom and loading spout. The loading spout would also be telescopic and inserted below the deck of the vessel during vessel loading to avoid and minimize dust dispersion.“

The study found that with the dust suppression systems, operation of the proposed project would deposit approximately a one-quarter teaspoon of coal dust per year per square meter.

The DEIS also measures air quality related to coal dust and found levels would remain below National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The DEIS says, “The analysis determined the estimated maximum concentrations for each criteria air pollutant would be below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

The Clean Air Act mandates the EPA set, and periodically update, standards for ambient air quality. The EPA sets primary and secondary standards to protect the public. The primary standards protect the health of at-risk populations such as people with heart or lung disease (like asthmatics), children and senior citizens. Secondary standards concern public welfare, which means protection against visibility impairment, damage to animals, crops, vegetation and buildings.

To summarize, the coal dust is suppressed with a sticky surfactant spray during rail transit, off-loaded indoors while being sprayed with water, moved on enclosed belt conveyors to the coal pile. The coal pile will be sprayed with water to suppress dust. The coal would be loaded onto ships with the boom below deck to minimize dust. And the surrounding air quality would meet all standards.

We don’t see coal dust as an issue based on Ecology’s draft environmental impact statement findings.

Some opponents of the project are talking about coal markets collapsing. In other words, they say the coal markets are collapsing therefore MBT will lose money and should not be permitted. This type of argument goes against America’s capitalist system. If a business wants to invest millions in a venture and it fails, then the business loses all its money.

In MBT’s case no public money is involved, it’s all private. The old Reynolds site is being remediated, so it’s better off now than before. If MBT goes out of business, we’ll be left with prime riverfront real estate that another investor will want.

For you coal opponents, if MBT invests $600 million and goes out of business, wouldn’t this deter others from trying to build similar projects?

If you oppose the MBT project due to dust, hopefully this clears the air. If you oppose the project because of economic conditions, and truly believe MBT would go out of business, you might be better off becoming a project supporter.