Cowlitz County commissioners have approved environmental consulting company ICF International to help it, the state Ecology Department and the Corps of Engineers evaluate Millennium Bulk Terminals’ plan to build one at the site of the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter.
Once a notice to proceed is signed today, ICF will embark on the first phase of the environmental impact study – the scoping process.
Dates have not yet been set for the first or proceeding phases, but public consultation will be one of the first steps undertaken, according to a statement from Cowlitz County officials.
The three agencies will work with ICF and oversee its progress on the EIS.
Millennium is one of three remaining terminals proposed in the region to export coal railed from Wyoming and Montana to Asian markets. The other two terminals are proposed for Bellingham, Wa and Boardman, Ore.
Three other projects have been abandoned, which together represented up to $550 million in investment, 305 permanent jobs and nearly 50 million tonnes of coal destined for Asia.
All of the proposed projects have received considerable opposition from environmental groups and local residents who hold concerns about coal dust, congestion and climate change.
