Rally Against Planet Destroying Coal 1/15 at OR Trans. Comm. meeting

Dear Friends,

A coal export victory you helped secure for the Columbia River Gorge is at risk. Big Coal and their allies have pressured the Oregon Transportation Commission to re-vote on a grant to use public money to build a coal export dock on the Columbia River, despite the permit for the facility being denied. Tell the Commission to stand strong against Big Coal and uphold their decision! Last summer, the Oregon Transportation Commission voted 3-2 to deny funding for the Port of St. Helens’ application to re-build the Berth 2 dock at Port Westward so Ambre Energy can transfer coal to massive ocean-going vessles from barges sent down through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Commission was right to deny public money for coal export, yet Big Coal, the Port of St. Helens, and their allies are pressuring the Commission to reverse its decision. Ambre’s coal export proposal is at a dead-end. The company was handed a permit denial by the Department of State Lands in 2014, and the Army Corps of Engineers put their review process on hold indefinitely. Without Ambre Energy the dock improvements at Port Westward are unnecessary. Scarce public funding for transportation should go to other cleaner, shovel-ready projects seeking funds. We need to show our support by attending the next Oregon Transportation Commission meeting: What: Oregon Transportation Commission’s public hearing to re-vote on transportation funding for coal export dock at Port Westward. When: Thursday, January 15, 2015.  Sign-ins to testify are tentatively scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon, with the hearing tentatively scheduled to begin at 12:45. (Note: the final agenda will be posted on Friday at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/pages/otc_main.aspx.) Where: Salem Red Lion Hotel.  3301 Market St. NE.  Salem, Oregon. Remember to wear RED!  Carpool from Portland: meet up at the Columbia Riverkeeper office at 10 AM.  1125 SE Madison Street 97214. Email Ryan@GorgeFriends.org to let me know you're planning on coming to the carpool! Getting Big Coal out of Oregon for good isn't easy. They have deep pockets and aggressively pressure people and agencies that stand up against them. The Oregon Transportation Commission needs to hear that they did the right thing by denying funding for Ambre's coal dock in August, and that we stand with them. Tell the Oregon Transportation Commission to fund shovel-ready transportation projects, not dead-end coal export proposals. Tell the Commission to stand firm and not be pressured into approving the Berth 2 project at Port Westward. Send your comments to the Transportation Commission by clicking on the "Take Action" button below - sample comments are provided that you may edit. Thank you, Ryan Rittenhouse Conservation Organizer Ryan@GorgeFriends.org (971) 634-2034