1. Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest
Martin Donohoe

2. Provides 30% of world’s energy needs and 41% of global electricity
Coal
Provides 30% of world’s energy needs and 41% of global electricity
US: 31% natural gas, 30% coal
Accounts for 44% of carbon emissions from fuel

3. Coal Top five producers: China, US, India, EU, Australia
Five largest users:
China, US, India, Russia, Japan
Largest coal reserves:
US, Russia, China, Australia, India
Top five exporters:
Australia, Indonesia, Russia, US (9%, $11 billion), South Africa

4. Plans Powder River Basin coal → China and India Federal land
Americans own most of Powder River Basin (40% of America’s coal supply)

5. Coal Economics
Cheap:
Sold to coal companies for as low as $1/ton (usually non-competitively)
U.S. price = $9/ton; sold to China for $80 -$123/ton
Uncompetitive leasing and poor oversight have cost U.S Treasury $29 billion since 1982
army

6. Plans 100-150 million additional tons/yr 20 trains/day 12 barges/wk
4 diesel engines/train ( cars per train)
12 barges/wk

7. Plans Would dramatically increase U.S. coal export capacity
million tons/yr
Current million tons/yr
With active proposals – additional million tons/yr
Through Columbia River Gorge (National Scenic Area)

9. Total: 150 mmt/yr coal 48 mmt/yr coal 10 mmt/yr coal 15-30 mmt/yr coal
If current proposals are approved, that could result in more than 150 million tons of coal shipped each year. An average of 26 loaded coal trains, each over one-mile long with over 100 cars propelled by four diesel engines, could pass through Oregon and/or Washington every day. This will result in the release of significant amounts of airborne pollutants and related disease from diesel engines and coal dust. The increased train traffic will also cause significant delays at many rail crossings, increased risk of vehicle and pedestrian injuries along the tracks, and increased noise pollution. As a group of Oregon physicians, we are deeply concerned about the health and safety impacts these proposals
10 mmt/yr coal
Total: 150 mmt/yr coal

10. Health Consequences of Coal Mining
Respiratory diseases (including Black Lung Disease)
Heart disease
Cancers
Low birth weight
Birth defects

11. Environmental and Animal Health Consequences of Coal Mining
Depleted aquifers
Decreased land for ranchers for grazing
Dust pneumonia in cattle and horses

12. Possible Benefit of Coal Mining
Rare earth metals (necessary for electronic technology) may be mined from coal waste
Economic and national security benefit, since China currently controls 95% of the market

13. DECKER MINE: DECKER, MONTANA
PRB mining – tax rev lost
Taxpayers missed out on an estimated $28.9 billion in revenues over 30 years due to the failure of the federal Bureau of Land Management (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial
Analysis)  Since 1982 the FMV lease process administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provided a $28.9 billion subsidy to coal producers and utilities
Since 1991, only four out of 26 major Powder River Basin (PRB) coal sales have had more than one bidder, and the small handful that were "competitive" only had two bidders each.
The current BLM lease program allows coal producers to set the terms for the mining, distribution, and pricing of coal.
Average sale price on PRB coal is $1.17, most recent this summer (Peabody) went for $1.10/ton Sells in Asia for over $100/ton

14. Accidents Almost 40 train derailments over last 2 years
250 deaths/yr in U.S. from all rail transport accidents
Barge accidents
Risk of fires at coal terminals
Special firefighting equipment and training needed
State oversight of rail safety and local fire/disaster preparedness weak

15. Coal Train derailment near Baltimore, OH
Coal train derailment from coal dust buildup near Baltimore, Ohio (2012).
Photo from Reuters.

16. Mesa, WA Coal Train Derailment (2012)

17. The same trains that would carry coal through the Pacific NW– Wisconsin, 2013

18. Fire at Westshore Coal Terminal British Columbia, 2013

19. Barges
Risks: coal and fuel spillage, collision, grounding, congestion, emissions, habitat disruption, and fish mortality from wake and propellers
Estimated 24 barge accidents/yr on Columbia, one/yr involving spill of coal or fuel

20. Barges Columbia Gorge tourism $746 million/yr
$233 million/yr of this represents labor income to people who live and work in the Gorge
$ billion salmon habitat placed at risk
Annual economic value of negative externalities produced by Morrow Pacific barges:
Pollution = $17.8 million
Greenhouse gasses = $22.8 million

21. Coal-laden ship breaks up off coast of South Africa (2013)

22. Barge Accident at Westshore Coal Terminal in BC (2012) Photo from CKNW News Talk 980.
Cape Apricot smashed through the loading trestle on BC’s Westshore coal terminal in 2012

23. Accidents (Preventable)
Sago and Upper Big Branch (West VA) mine explosions/cave-ins
Elk River (WVa) coal terminal leak/contamination
Others

24. Trains Wear and tear on RR tracks
RR limited by federal law from paying more than 5% costs for improvements in at-grade crossings, bridges, tunnels, and overpasses
Costs will be borne by local municipalities, state and federal taxpayers

25. Health Effects Diesel particulate matter: impaired lung development
pulmonary inflammation and lung cancer
increased risk of heart attacks/strokes/cancer/asthma

26. Health Effects Diesel particulate matter:
increases cardiopulmonary and all-cause mortality
developmental neurotoxin
Perinatal exposure increases risk for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD-related symptoms
Occupational exposure linked to higher risk for ALS

27. Health Effects Coal Dust:
Up to 645 lbs. (3%) lost per car during transit
Surfactant decreases, but does not eliminate, risk

28. Health Effects Coal Dust:
Chronic bronchitis/emphysema/pulmonary fibrosis
Exposure to heavy metals
3-fold increased risk of cancer in coal terminal workers in Australia
Increasing rates of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis
Organic gardeners/farmers

29. William VanHook, Assistant VP, BNSF
“Plumes of coal dust can often be seen from passing coal trains. When standing near the rail lines, I have often had to avert my face when a loaded coal train passes to avoid being pelted with coal particles.”
William VanHook, Assistant VP, BNSF

30. Health Effects Noise: Cardiovascular disease Stroke
Cognitive impairment in children
Exacerbation of mental health disorders
Sleep disturbances

31. Health and Environmental Effects
Worst effects on:
Communities of color, children, older adults, and low income citizens
Native Americans
Tribal fishing sites (Native American fish consumption up to 10X U.S. avg. of 14 lbs/yr)
Organic gardeners
Quality of life for all

32. Frequent, Long Train Crossings
Delayed EMS and fire department response times
Increased accidents, traumatic injuries, deaths

33. Consequences of Burning Coal
Increased ground level ozone
Mercury (and other heavy metals) neurotoxic
Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, lowered IQ, anxiety, depression, aggression, and social problems

34. Consequences of Burning Coal
Mercury:
300, ,000 U.S. women of reproductive age with toxic levels
EPA states 75,000 newborns/yr in US have increased risk of learning disabilities associated with mercury exposure in the womb
Vast amounts of water needed for cooling and processing

35. Consequences of Burning Coal
Air pollution:
200,000 premature deaths/yr in U.S.
7 million worldwide (1/8 deaths)
2.1 – 3.3 million (outdoor air pollution)
2-3.5 million (indoor air pollution)

36. Consequences of Burning Coal
Fine particle air pollution from existing coal plants caused over 13,200 deaths in the US in 2010
Government program promoting coal use in Northern China may cut life expectancy of 500 million people by average 5 yrs

37. Consequences of Burning Coal
Global warming:
400,000 deaths and million disability-adjusted life years lost per year (WHO, UN Environment Program)
Expected to double by 2030
Weather extremes
Power from Coal (sponsored educational curriculum from American Coal Foundation): “The earth could benefit rather than be harmed by increasing carbon dioxide.”

38. True Cost of Fossil Fuels
Worldwide: $500 - $775 billion in fossil fuel subsidies
Subsidies for polluting energy sources greater than 12 times subsidies for renewables (excluding military costs)
Public health costs = 2X electricity rates
U.S. = Over $21 billion in fossil fuel subsidies nationally in 2017

39. True Cost of Fossil Fuels
Global tax benefits and fossil fuel subsidies = $5.3 trillion (includes health, environmental, and military costs)
Higher than what governments worldwide spend on public health
If all such benefits and subsidies were stopped, 1.6 million preventable deaths/yr would be averted

40. True Cost of Fossil Fuels
When subsidies and externalities taken into account, renewables look great
Even so, Peabody Energy attempting to rebrand coal as a cure for poverty

41. Jobs
Progressives (who oppose coal exports) traditionally support unions, green energy jobs, living wage, health insurance for all, etc.
51,000 coal industry jobs (including 15,000 coal miners)
Environmental restoration – 126,000 jobs
Bowling industry – 69,000 jobs
Professional dancers – 20,000

42. Jobs Coal exports - Short-term, unhealthy jobs
15 coal mining deaths in 2017
1966: 233
One century ago: 2,226
Every 4.5 new coal jobs means one American will die from increased fossil fuel pollution
U.S. taxpayers subsidizing Chinese and Indian jobs

43. Jobs and Property Values
Effect on local retailers and their often low wage employees
Rail capacity limited, Montana farm exports may suffer
Seattle study predicts rail crossing congestion could cost up to $455,000/yr in lost revenue plus an additional $475 million in diminished real estate values
Negative effects on tourism

46. Jobs program for pulmonologists, special ed teachers, and morticians

47. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
Coal export prices down : 2011 ($130/ton) → 2018 ($103/ton)
Investors abandoning coal
World Bank and U.S. sharply restricting funding of (overseas) coal plants (2013)

48. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
Average U.S. coal plant is 42 yrs. old
Last Oregon coal plant (Boardman) to close in 2020
11/15 proposals to build major new coal export facilities in the US defeated or cancelled between 2013 and 2015
2016: Oakland, CA bans coal hauling and storage, dooms planned terminal

50. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
Chinese demand expected to drop with development of nuclear and renewables (currently coal = 66% of China’s energy consumption)
Air pollution situation “grim” (1.23 million premature deaths in China in 2010)

51. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
China has banned new coal plant production near Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou and promised to close 2,000 small coal mines by 2015
Banning coal sales and use in 6 main districts of Beijing by 2020
Plans to increase renewables and nuclear energy

52. HOWEVER…
2015: US Interior Department’s Regional Management Plan authorizes sale of $10.2 billion of Powder River Basin coal (on 106,000 acres of public land) at far below market prices
Would negate most other Obama administration actions to control carbon emissions

53. However
2016: Obama administration required royalty payments to federal government
2017: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke plans to re-open royalty loophole
2018: Federal court rules that BLM violated law when it made 80 billion tons of Powder River Basin coal available for leasing; requires agency to first assess environmental risks of fossil fuel combustion/consider alternatives

54. Desperation
Supporters using amoral logic of “someone else will sell it to them” – similar to tobacco exports
Coal companies funding harassment of U.S. scientists

55. The Latest
Plans to use railways and terminals to transport Canadian Tar Sands and North Dakota Bakken Oil Field fracked oil through Pacific NW for export
2008: 9,500 rail cars carrying oil in the U.S.; 2014: over 400,000 cars (a 4,000% increase)
100 cars/train, each car carries 30,000 gal of crude oil

56. The Latest
Many new coal and oil terminals planned for Gulf of Mexico (if Pacific NW plans do not work out)
$500 million oil terminal proposed for Portland
Supported by state and federal funds
If all coal export terminals, oil-by-rail facilities, oil pipelines, and natural gas pipelines planned for the Pacific NW are completed and fully utilized, the region could export fossil fuels carrying 5X as much carbon as the proposed Keystone Pipeline

58. Port of Vancouver's 218-acre Terminal 5 - proposed site for the nation's largest oil-by-rail terminal 

59. The Latest Pipelines on wheels
2013: Trains carrying crude oil exploded, spilled, or derailed 117 times
E.g., Lac-Megantic, Quebec – 47 killed, $1.2 billion damage (2013)
More crude oil spilled in U.S. rail accidents in 2013 than in previous 40 yrs combined

60. Lac-Megantic, Quebec, 2013

61. The Latest
Federal government predicts trains hauling crude oil or ethanol will derail an avg of 10X/yr over the next 2 decades, causing more than $4 billion in damage and possibly killing hundreds if they occur in a densely populated region
16 million Americans live within 0.5 km of one of the existing lines

62. The Latest
2016: Renewable energy accounted for 86% of newly-installed capacity for electricity generation (62% worldwide)
However, coal use increasing in India and (dramatically) in Pakistan
2016: Canada commits to phaseout of coal by 2030
2016: British Columbia rejects oil pipeline expansion (but Canadian government favors)

63. The Latest
2017: Portland City Council unanimously bans new fossil fuel terminals (upheld by OR Supreme Court, 2018)
2017: WA state refuses to allow coal export terminal at Longview
2017: UK power grid goes 24 hrs without coal (now being used only for occasional backup power)
2018: U.S. now a net exporter of oil

64. The Latest
Between 40,000 and 60,000 diesel trucks travel Portland’s roads each day
Oregon Legislature guts bill that would have replaced old diesel engines with newer engines that would have run 95%-99% cleaner and deliver as much as $17 in health benefits for every clean-up dollar invested

65. The Latest
2017: Trump administration rolls back Obama-era regulation requiring trains to install electronically-controlled pneumatic braking systems by 2021 (current air brake technology over 100 yrs old)
2018: France announces plan to shut all coal-fired power plants by 2021

66. The Latest
EPA postpones deadline for limiting toxic metals and other pollutants in wastewater of coal plants from 2018 to 2020
2018: Trump administration considering using West coast military bases or other federal properties as transit points for shipments of U.S. coal and natural gas to Asia

67. The Latest Old (dangerous) tanker cars slowly being phased out
Speed limit of 40 mph set for cities with large populations
Track, bridges aging, fire departments not prepared to handle blazes (special equipment required)
Crude by Rail Safety Act pending in Senate

68. The Latest
Obama’s Clean Power Plan would have required power plants to reduce carbon emissions by 32% from 2005 levels between now and 2030
Would have prevent 3,600 premature deaths
Blocked by SCOTUS
Overturned by Pruitt/EPA
Trump administration supporting coal, despite mine and plant closures secondary to economic factors and rise of natural gas
2018: More than half of all US coal plants have now closed or are committed to retiring
Norway divesting from coal, Ireland to divest of all fossil fuels

69. The Latest
Portland/Multnomah County to transition completely to renewables by 2050
Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Initiative passes 65% to 35%
Tax on large businesses to help fund clean energy programs and job training in an effort to meet clean energy goals

70. The Latest Oregon Coal to Clean Energy Bill:
Transition from coal to clean energy by 2025
Overwhelming public support
Would be cost-effective/beneficial
Pending in OR legislature

71. What is Being Done Protests Lawsuits Local measures passing
Pressure on governments/officials

72. What You Can Do Join Power Past Coal Coalition Volunteer
Demand a halt to all proposals

73. Conclusions
Coal is a dying 19th Century technology with Dickensian effects on human health and the environment
The consequences of coal transport through the Pacific Northwest and its subsequent burning in Asian power plants is bad for the Northwest, the United States, and the world

74. Conclusions
U.S. needs an energy policy for the 21st century, using clean technologies that provide long-term, well-paying, and safe jobs

75. “The first job of a citizen is to keep your mouth open.”
Günter Grass
“The first job of a citizen is to keep your mouth open.”

76. African Proverb
If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in your tent

77. Special Thanks To
Regna Merritt, Margie Kircher, Andy Harris, Susan Katz, and others at Oregon PSR
Laura Stevens and others, Oregon Sierra Club/Beyond Coal Campaign
Alan Lockwood, National PSR
Thousands of concerned citizens who have volunteered their time and energy

78. Resources Power Past Coal: http://www.powerpastcoal.org/
Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign:
Coal’s Assault on Human Health (Physicians for Social Responsibility):

79. Resources
Oregon PSR Resources: and

80. Resources
Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal (Ann NY Acad Sci 2011;1219: Available at

81. Public Health and Social Justice Website:
Contact Information
Public Health and Social Justice Website: or
Martin Donohoe