City calls for study of coal train traffic impacts

SANDPOINT — According to a new resolution approved by the City Council, coal trains are a concern for all local residents.

Council members passed a new resolution calling for several studies and reports detailing the impact of coal trains passing through Sandpoint. The decision followed a informational meeting last month in which conservationist Gary Peyton gave an update on coal expansion plans for the region.

According to Peyton, the Idaho representative in a Washington, D.C., clean air and water conference organized by national conservation groups, coal companies are planning a large expansion of coal exports to Asian countries — particularly China. Coal company officials plan to make these exports possible by establishing shipping terminals along the Oregon and Washington coastlines, which would result in more than 100 million tons of coal being shipped annually in uncovered rail cars through Sandpoint.

Based on this possibility, Peyton encouraged council members in July to pass another resolution reaffirming concerns about the passage of coal  through Sandpoint.

In April 2012, the council passed a similar resolution, and Peyton said that unanimous decision was a useful show of solidarity when discussing the issue with Sen. Mike Crapo.

According to the resolution passed Wednesday, coal exports are worrisome for several reasons. The fact that the cars are uncovered means coal dust can easily escape into the air and local waters. Furthermore, the trains merely pass through Sandpoint without bringing any economic benefits along with it. According to the resolution text, coal dust is also known to cause health issues in residents and wildlife. Finally, there is the possibility of a train derailing into Lake Pend Oreille, which would present a huge environmental crisis.

The resolution calls for several requests to assess the risk of such an enterprise running through Sandpoint. First, council members urge the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare an environmental impact statement that includes Bonner County and to hold a scoping hearing in town.

Second, council members want to see an environmental impact statement from the project organizers themselves. In case disaster strikes, city officials want a thorough environmental cleanup plan in place.

Now approved by council members, the resolution has been forwarded to several organizations involved in the permitting process for the coal exports project, including the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local legislative representatives, the Bonner County Commissioners and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.