Coal Hard Truth forum panelists and their bios

Panelists to answer you questions include North Sound Baykeeper Matt Krogh, Fred Felleman with Friends of the Earth, and Dr. Frank James.

Attend a Coal Hard Truth forum to ask questions about North America’s largest coal shipping terminal that could be built

just 10 miles northeast of San Juan County along the Strait of Georgia.

Panelists to answer you questions include North Sound Baykeeper Matt Krogh, Fred Felleman with Friends of the Earth, and Dr. Frank James.

James is the health/medical officer for San Juan County and for the Nooksack Indian Nation, the executive director of HonorWorks (a foundation that promotes a healthy society through the work of artists), and on the organizing committee for Whatcom Docs, a group of local physicians that are working to bring a scientific evaluation of he health impacts of the proposed coal port and coal trains on our community.

Fred Felleman completed his graduate research on killer whale feeding ecology from the University of Washington in 1986 and has since become an environmental consultant to a variety of local and national marine conservation organizations as well as local and tribal governments. He focuses on the impacts associated with maritime activities with a specialization in oil spill prevention and response efforts, and is also involved with the impacts associated with developing port infrastructure such as the cruise ship terminals at the Port of Seattle and developments at Cherry Point.

Matt Krogh is the North Sound Baykeeper at RE Sources for Sustainable Communities in Bellingham. Krogh works to prevent pollution and encourage good stewardship in the North Sound and Straits. His graduate work focused on ecological land use planning. He has co-authored a book on integrity-based decision making.

Forums will be 6 – 8 p.m., Feb. 7, on Lopez Island at Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, on Orcas Island, Feb. 8 at the Eastsound Fire Hall, Feb. 9, on San Juan Island, at Friday Harbor High School Commons.