RIDGEFIELD Wash.— Officers and members of construction and industrial unions turned out in force Oct. 24-25 to support a controversial coal export terminal proposed for a former industrial site in Longview.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was taking public comment after releasing its draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminals.
Hearings took place at the Cowlitz County Event Center in Longview from 1 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 24, and from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Clark County Events Center in Ridgefield on Oct. 25.
“Four years ago, our brothers and sisters in the Longview labor community were excited at the prospect of new family-wage jobs in a community that sees little new job growth. Today, they and their families continue to wait because the regulatory reviews continue on without end,” said Willy Myers, executive secretary of the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council. “Millennium Bulk Terminals would provide excellent skilled labor opportunities for workers who want to live and raise their families in the Longview area. As a state, we need to be sure the state’s regulatory process offers a fair and timely review of projects so we don’t lose jobs and investment opportunities.”
Millennium, which is owned by Ambre Energy and Arch Coal Inc., first began its permitting process in February 2012.
“We’re standing up for private investment that will bring in millions and millions of dollars in wages, millions of dollars in tax revenue, and for the development of a brownfield site that has been languishing for a long time,” said Mark Martinez, president of the Washington State Building Trades Council.
The $680 million private investment in Cowlitz County would create 1,000 union construction jobs under a project labor agreement, 135 permanent jobs when complete — 2,650 direct and indirect jobs overall. It would bring in $43.1 million in state and local taxes during construction, and $5.4 million in state and local taxes each year when fully operational, according to the company. Millennium is supported by 15 labor unions and/or councils.
