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Washington State Department of Ecology

Ecology home > Coal export projects > Millennium Terminal proposal

Environmental Review
Millennium Bulk Terminals Longview (MBTL) proposal

Millennium Bulk Terminals – Longview, LLC (MBTL), with members Ambre Energy North America and Arch Coal, has submitted an application for a proposed coal export terminal at the site of the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter, in Cowlitz County. The terminal would ultimately export up to 44 million metric tons of coal annually (please note that metric tons are different from U.S. tons, 44 million metric tons = 48.5 million tons).

Permitting Process

MBTL submitted a Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) for the proposed facility on February 22, 2012. The JARPA contains permit application information for federal, state, and local agencies.

The coal export facility, as proposed, would be capable of receiving, stockpiling, blending and loading coal by conveyor onto ships for export. MBTL proposes bringing coal in by rail to the site, storing coal at the facility, and exporting coal on ships. The proposal includes two stages for the project. Both stages are addressed in the submitted JARPA. Under Stage 1 plans, up to 25 million metric tons of coal would be handled and under Stage 2, the maximum would increase to 44 million metric tons of coal. The complete proposed facility would require construction of eight rail lines, two new docks, two shiploaders, four coal stockpile pads, and associated facilities, conveyors, and equipment.

The submission of the JARPA triggers an environmental review process under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Both phases of the proposed project will be addressed under SEPA.

Environmental Review Process

For proposals from a private company, the lead SEPA agency is the county where the project is located. Cowlitz County requested Ecology participate as a co-lead agency for the MBTL proposal, and Ecology accepted that request. In October 2012, Ecology, Cowlitz County, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to serve as co-lead agencies that will jointly oversee the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) under SEPA and the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Under SEPA, if information indicates a proposal is likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The EIS includes an evaluation of alternatives to the proposal and measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the proposal. The purpose of an EIS is to inform the public and to provide agency decision-makers with information to make permit decisions.

MBTL has already agreed to the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under SEPA in their JARPA application and request for CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification.

MBTL letter to Ecology on EIS (2/23/12)

The Army Corps of Engineers has already determined that an EIS will be required for the MBTL proposal under NEPA.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers press release on EIS for MBTL

Public involvement opportunities

Public input is a crucial part of the SEPA process and there are several opportunities for individuals or organizations to submit their comments on the MBTL proposal.

During scoping meetings and the scoping comment period. As part of the SEPA process to develop an EIS, a scoping period includes public meeting(s) and a public comment period. Co-lead agencies ask other agencies, tribes, local communities, organizations, and the public to comment on what should be analyzed in the EIS. After considering comments, the co-lead agencies will decide what should be included in the draft EIS.
When the Draft EIS (DEIS) is published. There will be public hearing(s) and a public comment period on the DEIS. Comments received on the DEIS will be included in the Final EIS (FEIS) along with responses from the co-lead agencies.
During the permit application review processes of agencies.
For more information, please see the Citizens Guide to SEPA Review and Commenting.

Current Activities at Millennium Bulk Terminals - Longview

Existing Operations

MBTL currently uses an existing dock to import bulk alumina by vessel. The bulk alumina is stored on site and transported to an Alcoa smelter in Wenatchee. The site is also used to import a small amount of coal by rail for use by the neighboring Weyerhaeuser complex. These existing operations will continue and are separate from the coal export terminal proposal.

Learn more on Ecology’s industrial permit Web page.

Cleanup of the Site

The Reynolds Metals Company owned and operated the site as an aluminum smelter from 1941 to 2000. The smelter was permanently shut down in 2001. Chinook Ventures purchased the facility from Northwest Alloys in 2004. MBTL purchased the facility from Chinook Ventures in 2011. Northwest Alloys, a subsidiary of Alcoa, remains the property owner.

Cleaning up the existing site is Ecology’s first priority for the property. Ecology is overseeing work being done by Northwest Alloys-Alcoa and MBTL to investigate and cleanup the site under the State’s Model Toxics Control Act. Cleanup efforts at the site are already in progress and are handled separately from the coal export terminal proposal.