The League of Women Voters of the San Juans would like to publicly endorse the letter of Nov. 27, 2012 written by the San Juan County Council to the lead agencies for the Gateway Pacific Terminal Environmental Impact Statement.

We thank the SJCC for addressing concerns that may impact San Juan County. The 2013 Legislative Priorities of the Washington State League of Women Voters urges our legislators to “consider environmental quality and public health impacts when making decisions about transportation and exports.”

If the proposed coal terminal is approved, the increased vessel traffic through the waterways of the San Juan Archipelago has the potential to impact the environment and human health. It will take the efforts of all of us to be sure that the involved agencies are addressing all of our concerns.

We encourage our citizens to write to the lead agencies preparing the EIS with your concerns about the impacts. Ask them to study potential adverse impacts and consider how impacts could be mitigated.

To comment, send an email direct to:   comments @eisgatewaypacific.gov

For more information go to “Coal Trains in Washington” at: www.lwvwa.org/positions.html.

Ann Jarrell

League of Women Voters of the San Juans