By Terilyn Chen
The community-led campaign to get coal out of Richmond is moving forward. On Thursday, July 18th, the Planning Commission will vote on an ordinance that would phase out current coal and petroleum coke storage and handling at Richmond’s Levin terminal. The ordinance would also prevent future coal or petcoke operations.
This hearing is an important hurdle the ordinance must clear before it can go to the City Council for approval, so we need a strong turnout. We invite our members and supporters to join us to show the Planning Commission that this ordinance has the strong backing of the community.
WHAT: Richmond Planning Commission hearing on coal ordinance
WHERE: Richmond City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza
DATE: Thursday, July 18
TIME: 5:30 PM – No Coal in Richmond rally; 6:30 PM – hearing and public testimony
RSVP!
Last year Richmond’s Levin terminal handled nearly one million metric tons of coal. The dirty fossil fuel is stored in massive uncovered piles on the waterfront before being shipped overseas. This is a serious threat to the health and safety of local communities and the environment.
Coal dust that is released into the air during the terminal’s operations contains substances known to pose severe harm to human health, including arsenic, lead, chromium, and other toxic heavy metals. Exposure to coal dust is linked to decreased lung capacity, increased childhood bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, emphysema and heart disease. Richmond residents, especially low-income communities of color, already suffer from high levels of asthma and other health problems due to bad air quality. We need to end coal and petcoke operations to make the city a safer place to live.
Richmond’s coal terminal is also a threat to our local environment. Coal dust and its toxic components have been found at high levels in the environment near coal terminals. Wind carries coal dust across long distances, dispersing toxins such as arsenic and mercury into soil and waterways. Coal dust can cause serious harm to aquatic life — a real threat when it comes to a terminal right on the Bay.
Please join us on July 18th to show your support for this ordinance. Your presence will make a difference.
Questions? Want to get involved? Email Regional Coal Organizer Terilyn Chen at terilyn.chen@sierraclub.org. You can also visit the No Coal in Richmond website.
Photo: the Levin-Richmond terminal, courtesy Google Maps.