Much print has been devoted to the coal terminal proposal for Cherry Point, with the villain being coal trains that release coal dust. I believe coal dust is a red herring. More worrisome is an accident in the shipping lanes. What is truly at stake here is the pristine beauty of the San Juan Archipelago and waterways. Should a ship's pilot commit a navigational error and steer his vessel onto rocks and puncture fuel tanks, the loss of beaches, marine life, sea birds and the beauty of the area would be inestimable. This is what we need to protect against. This is what needs National Monument protection. Acadia National Park is trivial compared to the San Juan Archipelago yet it receives the protection of National Park status. Support National Monument status for the San Juan Archipelago.

George Werkema

Lynden