Lummi Indian Business Council - EISs for the Proposed Gateway ...

9 Potential Impact: Acid Rain/Acid Deposition9.1 Issue Definition/Rationale:In addition to contributing to climate change and ocean acidification, when coal is burned,carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury compounds are release. Emissionsof sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal react withwater, oxygen, and other chemicals to form acidic compounds that fall from the atmosphere as“acid rain”.As described by the EPA, acid deposition (aka “acid rain”) causes acidification of lakes andstreams and contributes to the damage of trees and sensitive forest soils. Acid rain alsoaccelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable totem poles thatare part of the Lummi Nation’s cultural heritage.9.2 Extent/Geographic Scale of EvaluationImmediate AreaLocal AreaRegional AreaGlobal AreaThe EIS should evaluate the impacts of the increased availability of coal to global competitors ofthe United States that would occur as a result of this project on the development and relianceon alternative energy sources and on atmospheric deposition of acidic compounds (“acid rain”).Like all of the potential project impacts, evaluation of the proposed project impacts on thecarbon balance, ocean acidification, and acid rain should specifically consider environmentaljustice and cumulative effects.9.3 Significant Unavoidable Adverse ImpactsThe operation of the proposed projects will increase the export and the availability of coal forcombustion. The resultant increases in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions from thiscombustion will affect the Lummi Nation due to the reliance of the Lummi Nation on seafoodfor its culture and economy.Providing the conditions to generate acid rain through the burning of fossil fuels, particularlycoal, has a direct, serious, and substantial effect on the political integrity, economic security,health, and welfare of the Lummi Nation, its members, and all persons present on theReservation. Acid rain will preclude the ability and/or interfere with the ability of the LummiPeople to exercise their treaty rights to fish throughout their U&A – these impacts will result insignificant, unavoidable, and unacceptable interference with our treaty rights and irreversibleand irretrievable damage to our spiritual values if the proposed projects are approved.Lummi Nation Scoping CommentsCorps Project Ref. No. NWS‐2008‐260Corps Project Ref. No. NWS‐2011‐325January 201315