BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The world's largest private-sector coal company is trying to end the debate about coal dust resulting from the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point.

Peabody Energy sent a letter to the Whatcom County Executive last week saying the company intends to treat all coal that it sends to Cherry Point with a sealant, which would eliminate the possibility of coal dust.

Peabody spokesperson Beth Sutton says the company feels that potential health impacts of coal dust have been widely misrepresented.



Sutton says by sealing the rail cars and using best practices to load coal trains, the company is using a "belt-and-suspenders" approach to concerns about coal dust.

She says SSA Marine is moving forward with plans to build the terminal, and Peabody is set to be their first customer.