NW Tribes Bring Coal Concerns To National Conference- and other news

NW Tribes Bring Coal Concerns To National Conference

Dec. 3, 2014 | KUOW  Oregon Public Broadcasting

Northwest tribes took part in a national gathering Wednesday for native leaders in Washington, D.C., where top federal officials told them they stand together in opposing climate change and supporting treaty rights.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was among those who addressed the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference.

“There’s a saying: ‘we don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.’” she said. “So that’s what climate change is all about. We have an earth that is in trouble.” ...

...Northwest tribes oppose those [coal terminal] plans. They say the increased pollution and ship traffic will violate treaty fishing rights.

Gina McCarthy, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, stressed that the Obama Administration respects those treaty rights.

“Tribal rights and their resources are protected by treaties and treaties are the supreme law of the land,” she said.

Lummi tribal councilman Jeremiah Julius said he was glad to hear that.....  read more here

Petronas puts B.C. LNG plant on hold

Oil prices below $70 US a barrel create poor conditions for project

The Canadian Press   12/03/14

Petronas says it's delaying its proposed liquefied natural gas terminal near Prince Rupert, B.C.

The Malaysian energy giant says although it has resolved its concerns with the B.C. government, the conditions aren't right to proceed.

Petronas says the economics of the project don't work as costs remain high and oil prices have dropped below $70 US a barrel.

The total investment of $36 billion covers the LNG plant, shale fields in northeastern B.C. and a pipeline to connect the two.

Despite the delay, both the company and the B.C. government struck a positive tone, expressing optimism the project will eventually proceed.....  read more here


from: Evergreen Islands

Burlington Northern Replacing Railroad Ties on Anacortes Spur

via email: 12/04/14

Over the last couple of weeks, Burlington Northern has been upgrading the railroad spur to Anacortes.  Early this morning, BN amassed a brigade of vehicles and equipment for today’s push, which are shown in the two pictures below.

One picture shows the equipment amassed on the east side of the La Conner/Whitney crossing, and the other picture shows the equipment amassed on the west side of the La Conner/Whitney crossing.
East Side Of The La Conner/Whitney Crossing

 

 West side of the La Conner/Whitney crossing