Daines voices concern about suspension of deep-water port infrastructure project

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said on Friday that the federal government was “slow walking” the approval process for a deep-water port in Washington State to undermine the coal industry.

Daines comments came after Pacific International Terminals, Inc., announced that it had voluntarily requested that the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) suspend a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) infrastructure project, which was expected to create 4,000 jobs.

“The federal government is clearly slow walking the approval process on the Gateway Pacific Terminal as part of its effort to destroy coal jobs,” Daines said. “The Gateway Pacific Terminal would provide access to international markets for Montana coal and agriculture products – including Crow coal – creating much needed good-paying union and tribal jobs. I appreciate the commitment the Crow Tribe’s partners have had to this project and know their commitment will continue. I will continue fighting against this bureaucratic assault on Montanans’ livelihoods.”  

Pacific International Terminals voluntarily halted the EIS process for at least 45 days after speculation that ACE would bring the project to halt based on the Lummi Tribe’s assertion that it would impact its fishing rights.

“Thanks to political pressure and the environmental special interests, the Gateway Pacific Terminal is suffering the same bureaucratic death as the Keystone XL Pipeline,” U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) said. “The Crow need and deserve for this project to go through; and frankly, there’s no reason it shouldn’t have been approved in a timely, transparent and fair manner. While I’m disappointed to see the project further delayed, I support the Crow and their partners doing what will best ensure fair treatment and lead to completion of the project.”