EPA critical of Corps’ coal-export project study

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency has criticized as “inadequate” a draft study the Army Corps of Engineers did on a proposed coal-export project in Washington state.

The EPA says the corps’ draft environmental review is “flawed” because it fails to take a hard look at potential environmental impacts, such as air quality, rail traffic and climate change.

Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview is proposing a dock to handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal a year. Coal would arrive by train from Montana, Wyoming and other states to be loaded on to ships bound for Asia. The project requires permits from the corps, among others.

The EPA told the corps in a letter Tuesday that it adopted an inappropriately narrow scope for its review. The Daily News reports (https://goo.gl/HtOBDc) the EPA recommended the corps’ study be revised and resubmitted for public comment.

Millennium officials downplayed EPA’s comments as just another step in the process.