BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The Bellingham City Council may decide today what issues it wants to see included in the environmental review of the proposed coal-shipping terminal at Cherry Point.

A resolution before the council would ask officials to conduct a "programmatic" environmental impact statement analyzing the effects of all coal-shipping terminals in the northwest.

Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce President Ken Oplinger says requiring such a big environmental review could kill the Gateway Pacific Terminal project.



The resolution would also make the city demand a third-party study of potential health impacts caused by the project.

A vote is scheduled during the city council's regular meeting starting at 7 p.m. at city hall.

The council will also hear a report from the State Department of Transportation summarizing their position on the Gateway Pacific Terminal during its committee meeting starting at 2:10 p.m.