AMONG SPEAKERS AT THE MEETING YESTERDAY WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL, BUSINESS OWNERS, TRIBAL MEMBERS AND EVEN SOME RANCHERS FROM MONTANA.
OPPONENTS EXPRESSED WORRY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE SUPPORTERS TOUTED JOBS THE PORT WOULD CREATE.
COAL FOR THE PORT WOULD BE MINED IN THE POWDER RIVER BASIN IN MONTANA AND WYOMING AND HAULED BY TRAIN THROUGH MONTANA, IDAHO AND WASHINGTON.
SOME SPEAKERS ASKED THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO CONSIDER THE IMPACTS AN INCREASE IN COAL TRAIN TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE ON THEIR COMMUNITIES.
OPPONENTS MAINTAIN AN ADDITIONAL 60 COAL TRAINS PER DAY WOULD ROLL THROUGH SPOKANE IF ALL OF THE PROPOSED COAL PORTS ARE BUILT IN THE NORTHWEST.
BNSF RAILWAY SAYS THE NUMBER OF NEW TRAINS IS LIKELY TO BE EIGHT TO 16.
