As a concerned citizen of Bellingham I speak in opposition to the proposed Gateway Pacific Coal Export Terminal, my petitioning is not an effort being paid for by private corporate interests.

We should be following suit with other communities in the Pacific Northwest and demand a full and comprehensive environmental review process. A review that will take into account all impacts, local, regional and global of the full costs of both the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal and the transportation of coal throughout the Pacific Northwest and then to China.

We need to take into account the impacts of this proposed project in terms of the effect on global warming by the commerce of extracting fossil fuels for profit. And the fact that humanity had better cease and desist such enterprises. It is definitely "an inconvenient truth," but one this citizen takes very seriously.

I do not believe the Gateway Pacific Terminal will create any positive outcomes, period! The small number of permanent jobs is insignificant compared to the damage done to the health and welfare of our entire planet.

Please do not rely on that old saw of "someone is going to build it somewhere else if we don't build it here." Every thinking person knows that in the context of the climate crisis, which is already upon us, "that dog don't hunt!"

Douglas Smith

Bellingham