John Stark in his Nov. 28 article on support for coal exports reports that Ken Oplinger said that Gateway opponents have prejudged the project's environmental impact before all the facts are in. I would agree that this is probably true. Let it also be said that Mr. Oplinger, as president of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is in fact a lobbyist. He fails to recognize or admit that he is also prejudging what the environmental impact of proceeding with the Cherry Point project will be before all the facts are in. Perhaps Mr. Oplinger subscribes to the adage don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

David Deckelbaum

Bellingham