The
INSIDE Letters
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County employee dies
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Algal blooms
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Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 24 • JUNE 17, 2014
Islanders speak out on coal terminal and jets At a recent meeting with Representative Rick Larsen, islanders express concerns Cali Bagby
Islands’ Weekly Editor
Islanders showed up with signs promoting green energy at a recent campaign kickoff for Representative Rick Larsen of the Second District. Orcas Islanders came
equipped to Odd Fellows Hall on June 8 with environmental concerns primarily focused on the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point. Lopez Islanders also showed up at the meeting expressing concern over the jet noise pollution.
Thank you for supporting myself and my family af ter my accident and during my recovery. We are so appreciative of your healing thoughts and prayers. We are also grateful for the generous donations and gif ts. We are especially grateful to our EMS, Tim Savage, Mitchell Barr, OPALCO and to everyone who held us close to their hearts. It looks like I will be returning to work at OPALCO sometime this summer. A true Miracle!
Coal terminal If approved, the $650 million Gateway Terminal would be the largest bulk export facility on the West Coast, perhaps in the nation. At full capacity, it would be capable of exporting up to 54 million metric tons of coal a year from the plant that SSA Marine, which operates an export terminal at the Port of Seattle and others worldwide, is seek-
– Kevin Zoerb and family
ing to build at Cherry Point, just north of Bellingham. The facility, as proposed, would store coal transported by rail from Montana and Wyoming’s Powder River Basin on coal-train caravans, each more than a mile long, circulating daily through the plant. The coal would than be shipped through the Salish Sea and San Juans by cargo ships – many of which
measure more than three football fields in length – to Asian markets, where it would be sold as fuel. Critics contend that the increase in shipping and rail traffic the facility would demand will produce air and noise pollution, traffic congestion and environmental risks and undermine the region’s quality of life and possibly its draw as a tourist destination. Supporters point to the many economic benefits both the facility and its construction will deliver, including up to 2,000 new jobs and a boost to the bottom line of state and local governments. FRIENDS of the San Juans Board Vice President Janet Alderton said her goal at the recent meeting was to inspire Larsen to reconsider his support for the coal terminal. Alderton told Larsen that the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal is "all risk and no benefit" for the islands. Larsen has been vocal about his support for the coal terminal because he says it will create jobs. Alterton voiced her opinion that there are other ways to support job growth through companies that provide solar energy, wind power and other energyefficient services. “These are existing
Lopez Island Family Resource Center's
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Summer Solstice Sale June 20 & 21, 10-5
10% - 40% off Everything! Fabric - Notions - Thread - Books - Patterns Door Prizes & Cupcakes 77 Village Road, Lopez; down the path and up the stairs above Vita's... 468-4677
6TH ANNUAL
LITERARY EVENT & "TASTES OF LOPEZ" DINNER
6:30 Friday, June 27 at LCCA
Enjoy an evening of readings and conversations with nationally acclaimed poets, Natalie Diaz and Roger Reeves while savoring wine and the Tastes of Lopez dinner prepared by local chefs.Ticket are $60 and are going fast. Stop by the LIFRC office to purchase tickets or call us at 468-4117. Visit our website for more details: www.lifrc.org
‘green’ jobs that will expand as people become better informed about the costs, benefits and incentives,” she told the Weekly. She also told the Weekly that she is concerned about Larsen's support of President Obama's EPA proposals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. “I told him that it is hypocritical to support the reduction of coal burning in the U.S. but to favor the export of our public coal reserves to be burned in Asia,” she said. Larsen could not be reached for comment by press time.
Jet noise
The other hot topic at the meeting was jet noise on Lopez Island. The noise from thousands of engine tests and training runs by new EA 18G “Growlers” and other planes at Naval Air Station Whidbey and Outlying Landing Field Coupeville has generated concerns. Karen Grimes, Cynthia Dilling and Councilman Jamie Stephens attended the campaign kickoff from Lopez. Dilling had hoped that Larsen would hold meetings on both San Juan and Lopez so he could hear the Growlers and hear from the people. She told the Weekly that Larsen did not respond to her request. “Our issue is to try to mitigate the noise we are receiving from Ault Field, which is affecting our quality of life, sleep, property values, use of our property and peace and quiet on which the economy of our county rests,” said Dilling. She added that she is concerned Larsen’s support of the military and jobs the base in Oak Harbor provides overshadows the problems islanders are facing when it comes to jet noise. This June, Larsen SEE LARSEN, PAGE 5