Like many people, I am concerned about the mile-and-a-half-long coal trains that are running through our county, about three per day each direction. They are louder than the typical freight train, and often wake me up about 3 a.m. The proposed coal export facility at Cherry Point would increase this to about 18 trains per day, nine each way.
Besides all the traffic congestion, pollution and coal dust they bring to us, I haven’t heard anyone wondering about reduced tourist trade. It’s not something that can be easily measured or predicted, but what brings tourist dollars to our county is not coal dust on Puget Sound or waiting at railroad crossings for coal trains. Tourists may go elsewhere, looking for a peaceful environment, clean air, water and mountains. How many jobs will be lost when they do?
Jennie Lindberg
Everett
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