Environmental

Plaquemines Parish Council Votes to Protect Coast, Says No to Coal


Dozens of residents speak out against proposed RAM coal export terminal at meeting

Plaquemines Parish, LA –(ENEWSPF)—January 9, 2015. The Plaquemines Parish council voted 8-0 against issuing a construction permit for the RAM coal export terminal. Dozens of residents from area communities spoke at the meeting to ask the Council to stand in solidarity with their communities and Louisiana’s coast against the interest of an out-of-state coal company.

“The people have spoken,” said Audrey Trufant-Salvant, newly elected to the council and a resident of Ironton. “This is a new council, and my colleagues and I want change in this parish and leadership that reflects the will of the people. The RAM coal export terminal would be devastating for Ironton and all of Plaquemines Parish. It’s time to put coast and community first.”

This decision followed a ruling by the 25th Judicial District Court in late December that overturned a key coastal use permit for the terminal. Councils from Westwego, Gretna and Jefferson Parish have also passed unanimous council resolutions voicing concerns about the proposed coal export terminal and its dirty coal trains, citing health and safety concerns and calling for public hearings.

In its ruling, the state court found the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) failed to consider alternative locations for the RAM coal terminal, even though the current site would be next to one of the state’s largest and most expensive proposed coastal wetlands restoration projects, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. 

The Clean Gulf Commerce Coalition includes Air Alliance Houston, Gulf Restoration Network (GRN), Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), Public Citizen and Sierra Club.

Source: www.sierraclub.org


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