The public is invited to an Oct. 1 meeting to comment on the scope of environmental impact statements (EISs) for a proposed coal export terminal near Longview.
Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview LLC proposes to build and operate a terminal to export coal from the site of the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter in Cowlitz County.
Cowlitz County, the Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are using a synchronized process to create two EISs – one meeting federal requirements and one meeting state requirements. Cowlitz County and Ecology must follow the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and the Corps must follow the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The third of five scoping meetings will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at Pasco’s The Trac Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.
Previous meetings were held in Longview and Spokane. Subsequent meetings will be held in Clark County on Oct. 9 and in Tacoma on Oct. 17.
The open-house style meeting will feature information on the proposed project, staff available to answer questions, and opportunities to provide oral or written comments. No formal presentation will occur, so people may arrive and leave as they choose during the meeting hours.
The open house will begin at 4 p.m. and continue throughout the meeting. People also may submit written comments or oral comments to a court reporter in a semi-private setting throughout the meeting. The opportunity to offer oral comments before an audience begins at 5 p.m.
Representatives from the three agencies will attend all scoping meetings and will accept and review all comments received.
[mappress]
Press Release, September 25, 2013