Bellingham Comments from Digital Recorder - EISs for the Proposed ...

GATEWAY PACIFIC TERMINAL EIS SCOPING HEARING VOL. I
COURT REPORTER: GWEN BRASS PROCEEDING DATE: October 27, 2012
Page 101
on discourse and discussion, and we value the opinions of
everyone who lives here. I don't have to reiterate all the
topics that are so weighty and so important that you're
covering, but what I'd like to request that you do as
individuals on this panel is to feel the sense of
responsibilities that you carry with this. To me, this is more
an ethical decision. You are making a huge decision on behalf
of all others. And just your participation in the panel
carries with it a huge weight.
So taking into account
the medical issues, the health issues, the quality of life
issues, Bellingham is uniquely positioned to be an educational
tourism spot, in my opinion. There are so many -- we end up on
so many lists of the top ten places of the country for clean
air, clean water, quality of life. It's critical that this be
preserved. This will not happen if -- I respectfully request
that you deny this permit.
Thank you.
MS. HULL: Thank you.
Next speaker, please. Can I have 80, 81, and 82 come
down to the front.
THE SPEAKER: My name is Colleen Schwartz. I live in
Bellingham. I raised my family here.
I grew up in Spokane. My grandfather immigrated from
Ireland to work on the railroads. Today I am here to speak out
the against the proposed Gateway Terminal and the associated