“We heard a variety of concerns and questions during scoping, and now we are at the stage where we can move forward and gather information,” said Elaine Placido, Cowlitz County director of building and planning. “We listened to thousands of people – those who live near the proposed project site to those who live outside the county.”
The proposed project would handle up to 44 million metric tons of Rocky Mountain coal from the site of the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter. Once fully operational, the terminal is expected to produce 300 direct and indirect permanent jobs.
Ken Miller, president and CEO of Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview LLC, issued a statement saying the company had hoped to be hiring workers by now, but was pleased the agencies are moving ahead.
“We appreciate the support we received during the scoping process from the labor, agricultural and business communities throughout the state,” Miller said.
While Cowlitz County and Ecology are overseeing this EIS under SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is developing a separate EIS under the federal National Environmental Policy Act. The corps has not yet announced the scope of its review.
After comments are considered and any revisions made, a final EIS will be issued. After that, the permitting process may begin.
