Daines supports Army Corps of Engineers restarting coal-project review in Washington State

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to restart work on the federal permitting process for the Millennium Bulk Terminal Project in Washington State, action that U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) has urged the federal agency to push ahead with to benefit the coal industry.

The Corps will conduct an environmental review toward processing a permit for the $680-million coal-export terminal in Longview, Wash., along the Columbia River. Sen. Daines has repeatedly requested that the Corps complete the review and issue the permit. Montana, one of the nation’s biggest coal-producing states, would reap the benefits of this project, according to the senator.

“Montana is rich in natural resources and has the largest coal reserves of any state in the nation,” Sen. Daines said on Oct. 22. “The Millennium Bulk Terminal would provide access to international markets for Montana coal and agriculture products, and would mean more high paying jobs for Montanans, including the Crow Tribe.”

The Crow Tribe in Montana is part of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), which represents 57 Northwest tribal governments from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, northern California, southeast Alaska, and western Montana. Last month, the ATNI approved a resolution opposing the Corps’ review of the federal permitting process for the coal-export facility.

The State of Washington also has tried to stop construction of the Millennium Bulk Terminal, which is the point of access for Montana coal to make its way to international markets such as Asia, according to the senator’s office. The state last fall denied a water quality permit needed for the Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview project, citing significant environmental harm from increased vessel traffic. The proposed port, according to reports, each year would handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal.

But according to a Sept. 6 letter that Sen. Daines and fellow colleagues sent to Mark Geraldi, Seattle District Commander for the Army Corp of Engineers, Washington State has waived its authority to issue a water quality permit, and called the state’s “abuses” of federal law “patently unlawful.”

“Unfortunately, liberal regulators in Washington continue to try to block this important project for Montana,” Daines said this week. “I’m glad that the Army Corps listened and is taking this important step forward.”

On July 31, Sen. Daines signed on to the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2018, S. 3303, as an original cosponsor to help pave the way for construction of the Millennium Bulk Terminal. S. 3303 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to make changes with respect to water quality certification, among other purposes, according to the text of the bill. The same-named H.R. 6889 was introduced in the U.S. House on Sept. 25.

The U.S. Senate on Environment and Public Works Committee held hearings on Aug. 16 for S. 3303. The House version is under consideration by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Additionally, Sen. Daines in July sought congressional action to block the state’s denial of the water quality permit for the project, according to his office, which pointed out that the coal-export terminal would provide access to Asian markets for Montana’s Decker Mine, Spring Creek Mine and the Crow’s Big Metal Project.