Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Presenter DisclosureMartin Donohoe
No Relationships to Disclose
Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest
Martin Donohoe
Plans
• Powder River Basin coal → China and India
• Federal land– Americans own most of Powder River
Basin (43% of America’s coal supply)
Coal Economics
• Cheap:– Sold 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 taxpayers $29 billion since 1982
army
Plans
• 100 million tons/yr• 26 trains/day• 4 diesel engines/train (100-120 cars
per train); barges
Plans
• Would double U.S. coal export capacity• 2006 – 50 million tons/yr, 2012 – 100
million tons/yr, with proposals – 200 million tons/yr
• Through Columbia River Gorge (National Scenic Area)
• Up to 645 lbs. or 3% of coal dust lost per car during transit (BNSF estimate)
Health Consequences of Coal Mining
• Respiratory diseases• Heart disease• Cancers• Low birth weight• Birth defects• Etc.• Deception
DECKER MINE: DECKER, MONTANA
Accidents
• Almost 40 train derailments over last 2 years
• Barge accidents
• Risk of fires at coal terminals
Coal Train derailment near Baltimore, OH
Coal train derailment from coal dust buildup near Baltimore, Ohio (2012).
Photo from Reuters.
Mesa, WA Coal Train Derailment(2012)
The same trains that would carry coal through the Pacific NW– Wisconsin, 2013
Coal-laden ship breaks up off coast of South Africa (2013)
Westshore Coal Terminal in BC (2012)Photo from CKNW News Talk 980.
Fire at Westshore Coal TerminalBritish Columbia, 2013
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
Health Effects
• Diesel particulate matter:– impaired lung development–pulmonary inflammation– increased risk of heart
attacks/strokes/cancer/asthma
Health Effects
• Diesel particulate matter:– increases cardiopulmonary and all-
cause mortality–developmental neurotoxin
• Perinatal exposure increases risk for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD-related symptoms
Health Effects
• Coal Dust (up to 645 lbs. or 3% lost per car during transit) - Surfactant decreases, but does not eliminate, risk
– Chronic bronchitis/emphysema/pulmonary fibrosis– Exposure to heavy metals – 3-fold increased risk of cancer in coal terminal
workers in Australia– Organic gardeners
Coal Dust
Health Effects
• Noise:– Cardiovascular disease– Stroke– Cognitive impairment in children– Exacerbation of mental health disorders– Sleep disturbances
Frequent, Long Train Crossings
• Delayed EMS and fire department response times
• Increased accidents, traumatic injuries, deaths
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Increased ground level ozone
• Mercury and other heavy metals–Neurotoxin–300,000-600,000 women of
reproductive age with toxic levels
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Air pollution:–75,000 premature deaths/yr in U.S.–6 million worldwide
Consequences of Burning Coal
• Global warming:– 400,000 deaths and 5.0 - 5.5 million
disability-adjusted life years lost per year (WHO, UN Environment Program)• Expected to double by 2030
– Every 140 million tons of additional Powder River Basin coal exported will cause a net rise of 98 million tons burned in Asia
True Cost of Coal
• U.S. = $502 billion in fossil fuel subsidies in 2012–Subsidies for polluting energy sources
greater than 12 times subsidies for renewables (excluding military costs)
• When subsidies and externalities taken into account, renewables look great
Jobs
• Progressives (who oppose coal exports) traditionally support unions, green energy jobs, living wage, health insurance for all, etc.
• Coal exports - Short-term, unhealthy jobs
Jobs and Property Values
• Effect on local retailers and their often low wage employees
• 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
• Amoral logic of “someone else will sell it to them” – similar to tobacco exports
Jobs
Jobs program for pulmonologists, special ed teachers, and morticians
Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak
• Coal export prices down 40% over summer, 2013 ($80-90/ton)
• Investors abandoning coal• Chinese demand expected to drop with
development of nuclear and renewables– Air pollution situation “grim”– Has banned new coal plant production near
Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
Desperation
• Supporters using amoral logic of “someone else will sell it to them” – similar to tobacco exports
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
• 11 terminals planned– 70 additional trains per week, could move 700,000
barrels oil/day (proposed Keystone Pipeline = 830,000 barrels/day)
What is Being Done
• Protests
• Lawsuits
• Local measures passing
• Pressure on governments/officials
What You Can Do
• Join Power Past Coal Coalition• Volunteer• Demand a halt to all proposals
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
Conclusions
• U.S. needs an energy policy for the 21st century, using clean technologies that provide long-term, well-paying, and safe jobs
Günter Grass
“The first job of a citizen is to keep your mouth open.”
African Proverb
If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in your tent
Special Thanks To
• Regna Merritt, Margie Kircher, Andy Harris, Susan Katz, and others at Oregon PSR– [email protected]
• 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
Resources
• Power Past Coal: http://www.powerpastcoal.org/ • Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign:
http://content.sierraclub.org/coal/ • Coal’s Assault on Human Health (Physicians for Social
Responsibility): http://www.psr.org/resources/coals-assault-on-human-health.html
• Oregon PSR Resources: http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/environmental-health-/proposed-coal-exports.html and http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/environmental-health-/
Contact Information
Public Health and Social Justice Website:http://www.publichealthandsocialjustice.org
orhttp://www.phsj.org
Martin [email protected]
