Protect Missoula residents from dangerous coal dust pollution
If big coal companies get their way, dozens of trains per day could soon be roaring through Missoula on the way to ports in Oregon and Washington, leaving a cloud of dangerous coal dust and diesel fumes in their wake and blocking city rail crossings for hours each day.
Prolonged exposure to coal dust can cause emphysema and bronchitis1 -- but Missoula currently doesn't monitor for coal dust coming from the five coal trains that now come through the city each day, and the Missoula Health Department has been downplaying the significance of threat.2
Members of the Missoula City Council need to know that local residents are concerned about this threat and expect them to do everything in their power to keep residents safe.
Tell the Missoula City Council: Protect Missoula residents from coal dust, diesel fumes and traffic delays.
In recent weeks, the City Council has started looking into this issue, by holding a hearing on January 4th.
Incredibly, Montana Rail Link -- which operates the rail lines in Missoula -- is denying that coal dust is already an issue. "We have found no evidence of coal dust on our property," a company spokesman said at the hearing.3
But Missoula residents know better. Lowell Chandler, who lives close to the tracks on the north side of Missoula, already has dangerous coal dust on his property. "There's definitely coal dust coming off the trains," he said at the hearing, holding up his hands to show the black residue he had wiped off a railing outside his house that morning.4
As plans for massive coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest continue to move forward, the Missoula City Council needs to take proactive action to fully understand the threat this poses to local residents and give this problem the serious attention it deserves.
Tell the Missoula City Council: Protect Missoula residents from coal dust, diesel fumes and long traffic delays.
1. Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Coal Dust, U.S. Department of Labor
2. Missoula Council Gets Reassurances on Coal Shipments, KPAX Missoula, 1/4/12
3. Rail Yard Neighbors Concerned About Coal Dust; Officials say Area Clear, The Missoulian, 1/4/12
4. City Council Committee Discusses Potential Coal Train Traffic Increase, NBC Montana, 1/4/12
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The petition reads:
"As a Missoula resident, I'm concerned by reports that coal train traffic through Missoula could increase dramatically in the years to come, leaving a trail of dangerous coal dust in the city due to proposals to export coal. I urge you to study this issue carefully and do everything in your power to protect Missoula residents from the health impacts and the long traffic delays from increased coal train traffic."
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