The Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners last week voted to reject proposals to build a new dirty, dangerous coal and petroleum coke export facility at the Charles P. Howard Terminal in Oakland.
Citing environmental problems, public health hazards, economic pitfalls, and public opposition to the project, the Port Commissioners voted unanimously to reject two proposals that would have opened the Bay Area up to additional fossil fuel export facilities.
“ As an ex-Commissioner for the Port of Oakland, the prospect of approving a new coal export terminal in Oakland would threaten to roll back all of the progress we have made on being good environmental stewards for our community,” said Margaret Gordon, Co-Director of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project . “The proposed coal export facilities would threaten Bay Area families by further polluting the West, East and Fruitvale communities of Oakland, which are already some of the most vulnerable communities of color in the Bay Area. This decision is a victory for our community and will protect local families from the threat of another dirty, dangerous project.”
“From California to Oregon to Washington, local communities are holding the line in the fight against dirty coal exports. Though we still have more work to do here in the Bay Area, the Port’s decision represents a huge victory for safeguarding clean air, clean water, and public health for our communities, ” said Jess Dervin-Ackerman, Conservation Organizer for the Sierra Club’s San Francisco Bay Chapter .
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Press Release, March 3, 2014