Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point | Northwest Regional Office (NWRO)

Environmental Review
Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point

Pacific International Terminals, a subsidiary of SSA Marine, has proposed building a deep-water marine terminal at Cherry Point in Whatcom County. The proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal would handle import and export of up to 54 million dry metric tons per year of bulk commodities, mostly exporting coal.

In a related project, BNSF Railway Inc. has proposed adding rail facilities adjacent to the terminal site and installing a second track along the six-mile Custer Spur.

Permitting

Pacific International Terminals has submitted development applications to Whatcom County and other agencies.

In 1997, Whatcom County issued a shoreline substantial development permit and a major development permit for construction and operation of the terminal. Because of changes to the size and scope of the proposal, the county has determined that a new shoreline permit is required for the project. The project must undergo a full environmental review before the company can obtain a new shoreline permit or other permits required for the project.

Environmental review

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Ecology and Whatcom County will conduct a coordinated environmental review of the Pacific International and BNSF applications under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

The agencies have determined that the proposed export terminal and associated rail expansion require an environmental impact statement (EIS). The lead agencies are responsible for identifying and evaluating how the proposed project would affect the environment. Ecology will ensure that the environmental reviews consider potential statewide effects of the project.

Steps in the environmental review process and estimated timeline:

February 2012 - Determine if there will be impacts: As co-leads in the state environmental review process, Ecology and Whatcom County have confirmed this and expect to issue a determination of significance.That determination will be used to launch the scoping process, expected in June.

March 2012 - Have an informational meeting: The co-lead agencies conducted a meeting Tuesday, March 20, 2012, in Bellingham to explain the environmental review process, the agencies’ roles and responsibilities, the public's opportunities to engage in the process, and to answer questions. See the video of the meeting, from the Center for New Media. Click here for the presentation.

We are here (arrow) May 2012 - Hire a contractor: The co-lead agencies will hire a contractor to help prepare an environmental impact statement. Funding must be provided by the applicant.

June 2012 – Begin scoping - decide what factors to analyze and what geographic area to consider: The co-lead agencies ask other agencies, tribes and the public to comment on what the environmental impact statement should analyze. Examples of possible factors to consider include stormwater, wetlands, air emissions, noise, and traffic. After considering comments, the lead agencies will decide what should be included in the environmental impact statement.

Fall 2012 – Begin preparing draft environmental impact statement (EIS): The contractor, under the direction of the co-lead agencies, will prepare the draft EIS according to the results of the scoping process. The purpose of an EIS is to provide the public and agency decision makers with information on likely adverse effects of a proposed project, as well as reasonable alternatives and measures to reduce those effects.

Fall 2013 – Issue draft EIS, open public comment period, have public hearing: The draft EIS will be circulated so that the public and other agencies are given an opportunity to comment on its accuracy and content before it is finalized. The public will be invited to a public hearing about the draft EIS. The co-lead agencies will consider and respond to public comments in the final EIS.

March 2014 – Issue final environmental impact statement: The final EIS will include responses to the comments made on the draft EIS.

Public involvement opportunities, approximate dates

March 2012 – Pre-scoping informational meeting.

Summer 2012 – Public meetings and 60-day comment period on SEPA/NEPA scoping.

Fall 2013 – Public hearings and comment period on draft EIS.