The Longview-Kelso Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) has signed a project labor agreement with Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview, LLC, for the construction of a proposed $643 million coal export facility in Longview, Washington.
As for a timeline, company spokesperson Aaron Toro said “construction will begin as soon as we have our permits lined up to proceed. Scoping begins this summer for the Environmental Impact Statement and we hope to complete the entire EIS process in 18 months following.”
If approved — and there is no guarantee that it will be, as environmental groups are opposed to coal terminals — initial construction is two to three years away.
Building the facility would support 1,350 direct jobs and $70 million in direct wages, with an additional 1,300 indirect and induced jobs in the local, regional, and state economies, resulting in another $65 million in wages, company officials said.
“This agreement goes well beyond jobs for our members; it is for the entire community,” said Jeff Washburn, president of the Longview-Kelso BCTC. “With so much money injected into the local economy providing living wage jobs and preferences for local sourcing of materials — like tools, welding supplies, electrical and plumbing supplies, steel and concrete, Millennium will help to get our local economy back on track.”
Mike Bridges, a business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48, said construction projects of this size and duration “offer great opportunities for our building trades members in the community, and will create much- needed entry-level career opportunities throughout the trades apprenticeship programs.”
“(We) are very pleased to have the skilled union workers on board to build our coal export facility,” said Ken Miller, Millennium’s president and chief executive officer.
The agreement is signed by Millennium, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary Dave Myers; Longview-Kelso BCTC President Jeff Washburn; and 13 affiliated building trades locals.
