The Oregonian reported that Oregon's Department of State Lands had deferred a decision on Ambre's Morrow Pacific project.

The project involves railing coal from Montana or Wyoming to the Port of Morrow, about 200 miles inland on the Columbia River, and then barging the coal to the port of St. Helens for export.

DSL spokesperson Charles Redon told The Oregonian that a decision on issuing a permit for the project had been delayed form December 12 to April 1.

He said the delay would give the department more time to request comments – the third time it has sought public comment – and to consider the “thousands of” comments already received.

Ambre’s Oregon spokesman Jack Coleman told the paper the project's timing shouldn't be thrown off because other state and federal permitting processes were “on a similar timeline” and first shipments could still be achieved in 2014 as planned.

"As long as it keeps moving forward, it doesn't really present an issue," Coleman reportedly said.

Stage 1 of the project will ship 3.5 million metric tons per year and cost $152 million while stage 2 will take capacity to 8 million metric tons per year for an additional investment of $94 million.