I live less than a mile from the proposed coal terminal, and I'm looking forward to seeing 1,000 men working for the next two years. The 350 full-time employees making $30-$35 per hour will replace some of the revenue lost when GP was destroyed.

I'm also writing this letter to ease the fears that many have of the projected environmental disaster the coal trains will bring. The truth is coal trains have being passing through Belligham going to Canada for five years without leaving a trace.

I believe another lie is that the terminal will produce a cloud of dust that will blow across the county. I have followed the coal train to Canada where the terminal exists 1/2 mile north of the BC ferry terminal. While waiting for the ferry to Vancouver I have watched U.S. coal loaded on ships with no dust.

Another lie is that there will be hundreds of trains a day, again I believe the truth is closer to one dozen.

Melvin Marcoux

Ferndale