Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest Martin Donohoe.
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Transcript of Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest Martin Donohoe.
Plans
• Powder River Basin coal, cheap, export to China and India (to supplement national uses and European/Australian exports)
• Federal land, cheap• Americans own most of Powder River Basin
(43% of America’s coal supply)• 2/3 of coal extracted from public lands
Coal Economics
• Cheap:– Sold for as low as $1/ton (usually non-
competitively)– U.S. price = $9/ton; sold to China for $80 -
$123/ton– Uncompetitive leasing and poor oversight
have cost U.S Treasury $29 billion since 1982
army
Coal Economics
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Interior Department, and GAO looking into royalty payment evasion (companies valuing coal at low domestic prices, rather than those fetched overseas)
Plans
• 100 million tons/yr• 26 trains/day
–4 diesel engines/train (100-120 cars per train)
• Barges
Plans
• Would double U.S. coal export capacity• 2006 - 50 million tons/yr• Current - 100 million tons/yr• With proposals - 200 million tons/yr
• Through Columbia River Gorge (National Scenic Area)
48 mmt/yr coal48 mmt/yr coal
8 mmt/yr coal8 mmt/yr coal
44 mmt/yr coal44 mmt/yr coal
Total: 150 mmt/yr coal
Total: 150 mmt/yr coal
Health Consequences of Coal Mining
• Respiratory diseases (including Black Lung Disease)
• Heart disease• Cancers• Low birth weight• Birth defects• Etc.
Accidents
• Almost 40 train derailments over last 2 years– 250 deaths/yr in U.S. from all rail transport
accidents
• Vancouver barge hits coal chute; coal ship breaks in two off South Africa
• Mississippi River Barge hit railroad bridge, leaking oil
Accidents
• Runaway train disaster in Quebec (2013)• West Virginia surfactant spill pollutes
river (2013)• Risk of fires at coal terminals
–Water intensifies blaze; special equipment and firefighter training required
Coal Train derailment near Baltimore, OH
Coal train derailment from coal dust buildup near Baltimore, Ohio (2012).
Photo from Reuters.
Trains
• Large increase in wear and tear on RR tracks• RR limited by federal law from paying more
than 5% costs for improvements in at-grade crossings, bridges, tunnels, overpasses
• Costs will be borne by local municipalities, state and federal taxpayers
Deception
• Ambre Energy mislead Port of Longview (5 million tons/yr; internal documents up to 60 million tons/yr; re-applied at 45 million tons/yr)
• Port of Coos Bay admonished by judge for attempting to prevent Sierra Club form obtaining public records re proposed terminal
Deception
• Lauri Hennessey, spokesperson for the Alliance for Northwest Jobs and Exports–Calls the group “a grassroots effort”–Has referred to the sacred wetlands of
the Lummi Nation (Gateway site) as “basically…an industrial area”
Deception
• Lauri Hennessey, spokesperson for the Alliance for Northwest Jobs and Exports– Group created and largely funded by coal
industry and its allies– Hennessey = Vice-President of Corporate
and Public Affairs at Edelman (world’s largest PR firm, best known for decades of work on behalf of Big Tobacco)
Health Effects
• Diesel particulate matter:– impaired lung development–pulmonary inflammation– increased risk of heart
attacks/strokes/cancer/asthma (ER visits and hospitalizations)
Health Effects
• Diesel particulate matter:– increases cardiopulmonary and all-
cause mortality–developmental neurotoxin
• Perinatal exposure increases risk for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD-related symptoms
Health Effects
• Coal Dust:• Up to 645 lbs. (3%) lost per car during
transit• Surfactant decreases, but does not
eliminate, risk
Health Effects
• Coal Dust:– Chronic bronchitis/emphysema/pulmonary
fibrosis– Exposure to heavy metals – 3-fold increased risk of cancer in coal terminal
workers in Australia– Organic gardeners/farmers
“Plumes of coal dust can often be seen from passing coal trains. When standing near the rail lines, I have often had to avert my face when a loaded coal train passes to avoid
being pelted with coal particles.”
William VanHook, Assistant VP, BNSF
Health Effects
• Noise:– Cardiovascular disease (heart attacks,
increased BP, arrhythmias)– Stroke– Cognitive impairment in children– Exacerbation of mental health disorders– Sleep disturbance (fatigue, HTN,
arrhythmias, accidents and injuries)
Health and Environmental Effects
• Worst effects on:– Communities of color, children, older adults, and
low income citizens – Native Americans
• Tribal fishing sites (Native American fish consumption up to 10X U.S. avg. of 14 lbs/yr)
– Organic gardeners– Quality of life for all
Frequent, Long Train Crossings
• Delayed EMS and fire department response times– Effect on heart attack/stroke/trauma victims,
police response to crimes– Portland Fire Department response times already
poor– Houseboat fire
• Increased accidents, traumatic injuries, and deaths
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Increased ground level ozone• Mercury and other heavy metals
– Neurotoxin• Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder and
ADHD– 300,000-600,000 women of reproductive age with
toxic levels– 18% of Mt Bachelor mercury from Asian power
plants
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Air pollution:– 200,000 premature deaths/yr in U.S.– 4.1-6.8 million worldwide
• 2.1 – 3.3 million (outdoor air pollution)• 2-3.5 million (indoor air pollution)
• Government program promoting coal use in Northern China may cut life expectancy of 500 million people by average 5 yrs
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Global warming:–400,000 deaths and 5.0 - 5.5 million
disability-adjusted life years lost per year (WHO, UN Environment Program)
–Expected to double by 2030–Weather extremes
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Global warming:–2013 report from Power Consulting:
every 140 million tons of additional Powder River Basin coal exported will cause a net rise of 200-240 million tons of CO2 when burned in Asia
True Cost of Coal
• U.S. = $502 billion in fossil fuel subsidies in 2012– Subsidies for polluting energy sources greater
than 12 times subsidies for renewables (excluding military costs)
– Much internalized as industry profits• The public health costs of coal alone are more than
double the U.S. average retail electricity rate• When subsidies and externalities taken into account,
renewables look great
Jobs
• Progressives (who oppose coal exports) traditionally support unions, green energy jobs, living wage, health insurance for all, etc.
• Coal exports - Short-term, unhealthy jobs• U.S. taxpayers subsidizing Chinese and Indian
jobs
Jobs and Property Values
• Effect on local retailers and their often low wage employees
• Seattle study predicts rail crossing congestion could cost up to $455,000/yr in lost revenue plus an additional $475 million in diminished real estate values for commercial residential, and industrial properties located within 600 ft of the tracks– Negative effects on tourism
Multnomah County Health Department Analysis
• 9% of population suffers from asthma.• Coal dust may travel 1/3rd to 1 1/4 miles from
train tracks. • Almost 1/3 of population lives in areas that
either border or cross rail lines that could carry coal and already experience a high burden of air pollution and noise disturbance from industrial sites, roads, and trains
Multnomah County Health Department Analysis
• Communities of color, children, older adults, and low income citizens most likely to be affected
• Cumulative delay of up to two hours per day at each rail crossing and delays in emergency response times expected
• Precautionary principle invoked, calls for HIS and EIA
Public Opposition
• Have indicated concern or disapproval of coal export proposals:–600 health professionals–400 local businesses–220 faith leaders
Public Opposition
• Have indicated concern or disapproval of coal export proposals:– Multiple Oregon and Washington
municipalities, Portland and Seattle mayors, Oregon and Washington governors
– Northwest Tribes (Lummi Nation and Yakama Nation)
Public Opposition
• Over 1,000 people attended Oregon DEQ hearings in 12/12
• Impressive state capital rally 3/13• Hearing and rally re Port of Morrow
Project (7/13)• Other events gathering huge crowds in
OR, WA, and BC
The Latest
• 2013: Environmental groups announce intent to sue Burlington Santa Fe Railway and several coal companies for violations of federal Clean Water Act–Most coal plants in violation of Clean
Water Act
The Latest
• 2013: Army Corps of Engineers (federal permitting agency)decides NOT to consider local or global health and environmental effects of coal burning – Despite having concluded on prior review that
coal train pollution adversely impacts wetlands
Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
• Coal export prices down 40% over summer, 2013 ($80-90/ton)
• Investors abandoning coal– Goldman Sachs Report: “The window for
profitable investment in thermal coal is gradually closing”
– Goldman Sachs Infrastructure Partners owns 49% of parent company pursuing Gateway Pacific Terminal
Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
• Kinder Morgan abandons plan to build coal export terminal on Columbia River at St Helens
• Ambre Energy to renegotiate deal to take over Decker Mine in Montana– Ambre having financial problems
• Cloud Peak Energy fails to bid on large deposit; Kiewit bid (21 cents/ton) rejected by BLM
Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
• Chinese demand expected to drop with development of nuclear and renewables– Chinese government states country’s air pollution
situation is “grim” and is “harming people’s health and affecting social harmony and stability”
– China bans new coal plant production near Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou (summer, 2013)
• World Bank and U.S. sharply restricting funding of (overseas) coal plants (2013)
Desperation
• Supporters using amoral logic of “someone else will sell it to them” – similar to tobacco exports
The Latest
• 11 new coal terminals planned for Gulf of Mexico (if Pacific NW plans do not work out)– 60 additional trains per week, could move
700,000 barrels oil/day (proposed Keystone Pipeline = 830,000 barrels/day)
• Last Oregon coal plant (Boardman) to close in 2020
The Latest
• Plans to use railways and terminals to transport Canadian Tar Sands and North Dakota Bakken Oil Field fracked oil through Pacific NW for export– Pipelines on wheels– 2008 – 9500 carloads thru Pacific NW; 2012 – over
200,000; the future – more
What You Can Do
• Join Power Past Coal Coalition• Volunteer
• Call Governor Kitzhaber or his Citizen Representative: (503) 378-4582
• Contact DEQ and DSL
What You Can Do
• Continue to demand a full spectrum Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
• Demand a halt to all proposals
Conclusions
• Coal is a dying 19th Century technology with Dickensian effects on human health and the environment
• The consequences of coal transport through the Pacific Northwest and its subsequent burning in Asian power plants is bad for the Northwest, the United States, and the world
Conclusions
• U.S. needs an energy policy for the 21st century, using clean technologies that provide long-term, well-paying, and safe jobs
African Proverb
If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in your tent
Special Thanks To
• Regna Merritt, Margie Kircher, Andy Harris, Susan Katz, and others at Oregon PSR– [email protected]
• Laura Stevens and others, Oregon Sierra Club/Beyond Coal Campaign
• Alan Lockwood, National PSR• Thousands of concerned citizens who have
volunteered their time and energy
Resources
• Power Past Coal: http://www.powerpastcoal.org/
• Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign: http://content.sierraclub.org/coal/
• Coal’s Assault on Human Health (Physicians for Social Responsibility): http://www.psr.org/resources/coals-assault-on-human-health.html
Resources
• Oregon PSR Resources: http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/environmental-health-/proposed-coal-exports.html and http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/environmental-health-/
Resources
• Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal (Ann NY Acad Sci 2011;1219:73-98. Available at http://solar.gwu.edu/index_files/Resources_files/epstein_full%20cost%20of%20coal.pdf
Contact Information
Public Health and Social Justice Website:http://www.publichealthandsocialjustice.org
orhttp://www.phsj.org
Martin [email protected]