Environmental consulting company ICF International has been selected to help local, state and federal governments prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate a proposed coal export terminal along the Columbia River near Longview, Wash.
Cowlitz County, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) jointly manage the environmental review process for the proposed terminal project. The contractor was selected through the county’s public competitive bidding process. Cowlitz County and ICF International have started negotiations for a contract to assist the co-lead agencies’ preparation of an environmental impact statement.
The first phase of the EIS process is called scoping. Through scoping, the agencies seek input from the public, communities, tribes and agencies on what they recommend should be included in the EIS and assistance in identifying issues and concerns, such as factors to analyze and geographic areas to consider, in the EIS. Subsequent phases of the EIS process include research and preparing the draft and final EIS document. The dates for the scoping period have not yet been set.
The contractor will help the co-lead agencies ensure that the public receives information on the status of the environmental review, public comment periods, the time and location of public meetings and hearings, and other pertinent information throughout scoping and other phases of the EIS process.
People can sign up to receive email announcements regarding public comment periods and meetings at http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=WA-MILLENNIUM-EIS.
The agencies will oversee the EIS consultant’s work. Millennium will pay all costs through an arrangement with the county but will not be allowed direct contact with the consultant during the environmental review process, except with permission of the three agencies.
Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview, LLC, proposes to build and operate a coal export terminal at the site of the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter in Cowlitz County.
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For more information:
Ecology's Millennium Bulk Terminal page http://www.ecy.wa.gov/geographic/millennium/index.html
Cowlitz County: http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/Index.aspx?NID=138
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District: www.nws.usace.army.mil
Ecology’s website: www.ecy.wa.gov
Ecology’s social media: www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html