The governors of Washington and Oregon are urging the White House to evaluate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions from leasing and exporting the nation's coal.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber called on the federal government to examine the consequences coal leasing and coal exports will have on global greenhouse gas emissions and air quality. They sent a joint letter Monday to the President's Council on Environmental Quality.
Five coal export terminals proposed in Washington and Oregon would ship at least 100 million tons of coal a year to Asia.
The governors say coal exports from the Northwest could result in 240 million tons per year of carbon dioxide emissions. They say the federal government can't ignore the environmental and health effects of coal leasing and exports.
