In their letter to Council of Environmental Quality chairwoman Nancy Sutley, the Democrat governors called for an expanded review of three proposed terminals within their states and asked the CEQ to consider the carbon-dioxide released from coal burned for power.

Governors John Kitzhaber of Oregon and Jay Inslee of Washington wrote: “We believe the federal government must examine the true costs of long-term commitments to supply coal from federal lands for energy production, whether that production occurs domestically or in Asia.

“As you know, while coal consumption is declining in the United States, consumption in Asia is driving a substantial increase in global coal use. Although China and India are working to increase their use of other fuels and renewables, coal consumption in Asia has more than doubled in the last ten years.

“Coal is the major source of global greenhouse gas emissions, and its share is increasing rapidly. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases and other pollutants resulting from the burning of coal, including pollutants other than CO2, are imposing direct costs on people, businesses and communities in the US and around the world.”

The US Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing several permit applications for coal export shipping terminals in Oregon and Washington under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, and Section 10 of the federal Rivers and Harbors Act.

The permit applications include the Gateway Pacific terminal north of Bellingham WA, the Millennium Bulk Terminals proposal in Longview WA and the Morrow Pacific Terminal at the Port of Morrow in Boardman OR, including a downstream barging component to Port Westward, also in Oregon.

Collectively, these proposals could result in the export of up to 100 million tonnes of coal per year.

The expected end use of this coal is for energy production in Asia.

“We urge the CEQ in the strongest possible terms to undertake and complete a thorough examination of the greenhouse gas and other air quality effects of continued coal leasing and export before the U.S. and its partners make irretrievable long-term investments in expanding this trade,” the governors wrote.

Opponents argue the coal will be used regardless of whether it comes from the United States or elsewhere.

However, the governors say the proposed Oregon and Washington ports would increase carbon emissions by some 240Mt a year.