Protestors gathered outside the Washington State Convention Center before the Dec. 13 public forum on the Gateway Pacific Terminal proposed for the Bellingham area. More than 2,300 people showed up. The majority opposed the project on grounds that it would increase the number of trains carrying uncovered coal through the Puget Sound region, harm the environment and tie up traffic. Whatcom County, the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are conducting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for the project. It can be seen at eisgatewaypacificwa.gov/.
The 120-day comment period for the EIS scoping process ends Jan. 21, 2013.