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

GATEWAY PACIFIC TERMINAL EIS SCOPING HEARING VOL. II
COURT REPORTER: BETH DRUMMOND PROCEEDING DATE: October 27, 2012
Page 99
1 the microphone. 62 and 63, you're the desk.
2 Please state your name for the record.
3 THE SPEAKER: My name is Bill Young. Good
4 afternoon. Thank for holding this public hearing.
5 I'm deeply concerned about the proposed Gateway
6 Pacific Terminal and its associated rail traffic. I
7 strongly urge you to conduct a comprehensive study of the
8 cumulative impacts on rail lines that the GPT's trains would
9 cause, both within Whatcom County and along the entire rail
10 corridor through the Northwest.
11 These are significant, unavoidable impacts that
12 cannot be mitigated. A reasonable alternative is no coal
13 ports.
14 The proposed GPT's numerous long and heavy coal
15 trains would likely cause significant damage to rail line
16 infrastructure, increasing maintenance costs and
17 necessitating more frequent and extensive track repairs,
18 expensive new sidings, overpassings, and crossings would
19 also be required to accommodate the additional train
20 traffic.
21 Without such improvements, rail safety will be
22 seriously compromised, posing a significant risk to public
23 health and safety throughout the region.
24 The resulting taxpayer-subsidized rail
25 improvements would place a heavy burden on already stressed