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Proposed Coal Exports Threaten Oregon and the Northwest

Oregon's Department of State Lands is currently considering the first of three proposals to move huge amounts of coal from Montana and Wyoming through the Columbia Gorge to Asia. As a group of health care providers and public health advocates, we understand the significant risks to human health posed by massive coal shipments on our rivers and through our communities.

We believe that, at the very least, Governor Kitzhaber must review both a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment and a full Environmental Impact Statement before allowing any Oregon agency to grant a permit for any such project. Help us by joining your colleagues in requesting the development of a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment.

If you are a physician, please read the Position Statement on Coal Exports from concerned Oregon physicians to Governor Kitzhaber to learn more about public health threats associated with proposed coal export through Oregon. Add your name to the statement.

If you are a (non-physician) health professional, public health advocate or if you work in the health community, please read our letter to Governor Kitzhaber. Add your name to this letter.

If you have already signed on, thank you so much for lending your voice on this critically important issue. For more details, please contact Regna Merritt.

We are glad to learn that Governor Kitzhaber has called for a thorough review of coal export proposals and hope that he will continue to stand up for the health of Oregonians.

Latest News on Coal Exports

Read about a recent resolution to oppose coal transport by the City Council of Milwaukie (10/22/12, Milwaukie City Council Resolution #55-2012).

Oregon PSR is grateful for the September 10th, 2012 announcement from Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen and the Multnomah County Health Department. Together with the Office of Emergency Management, they have stepped up and will work to reveal what is known about impacts of coal dust, diesel emissions and emergency response times in Multnomah County. Read more about Multnomah County studying the health risks of coal (9/10/12, Bonnie Stewart, OPB's EarthFix), and view video of Jeff Cogen's announcement.

Read about Portland City Council Commissioner Amanda Fritz's coal export resolution (9/11/12, Scott Learn, The Oregonian).

Read Toxic Coal Blues, an article about opposition to plans to ship coal through Portland (8/22/12, Mindy Cooper, The Portland Observer)

Download the press release for our July 19th, 2012 press conference. 

Read the April 26th, 2012 news release from our partners in the Power Past Coal Coalition.

Read the Environmental Justice Task Force's letter to Governor Kitzhaber urging a full health impact assessment of proposed coal export facilities.

Watch this fascinating three-minute video highlighting plans to export dirty U.S. coal to Asia. Local voices from Longview, Bellingham, Hood River, and Portland share how coal trains and terminals will harm their communities.

Health Effects Related to Coal Exports

Diesel particulate matter is associated with:

  • impaired pulmonary development in adolescents;
  • increased cardiopulmonary mortality and all-cause mortality;
  • measurable pulmonary inflammation;
  • increased severity and frequency of asthma attacks, ER visits, and hospital admissions in children;
  • increased rates of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in adults;
  • increased risk of cancer.

Coal dust is associated with:

  • chronic bronchitis;
  • emphysema;
  • pulmonary fibrosis (pneumoconiosis);
  • environmental contamination through the leaching of toxic heavy metals

Noise exposure causes:

  • cardiovascular disease, including increased blood pressure, arrhythmia,
  • stroke, and ischemic heart disease;
  • cognitive impairment in children;
  • sleep disturbance and resultant fatigue, hypertension, arrhythmia, and increased rate of accidents and injuries;
  • exacerbation of mental health disorders such as depression, stress and anxiety, and psychosis.

Frequent long trains at rail crossings will mean:

  • delayed emergency medical service response times;
  • increased accidents, traumatic injury and death.