TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Supervisor Haschak and Supervisor Mulheren
MEETING DATE: December 14, 2021
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Supervisor Haschak
PHONE:
4441
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Supervisor Mulheren
PHONE:
4441
ITEM TYPE: Consent Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: N/A
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Approval of Transmission of Letter of Support for SB 307 (McGuire), Prohibiting and State Funding for a "Coal Train" through Mendocino County and North Coast
(Sponsors: Supervisor Haschak and Supervisor Mulheren)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Approve transmission of letter of support for SB 307 (McGuire), prohibiting and State Funding for a "Coal Train" through Mendocino County and North Coast; and authorize Chair to sign same.
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
On Sept. 9, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Resolution in opposition to a "Coal Train" application to use rail lines through Mendocino County.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
In August of 2021, an anonymous LLC out of Wyoming filed notice with the Surface Transportation Board to kill the Great Redwood Trail and instead ship millions of tons of coal through the Northern California counties of Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt. This rail operation would utilize a portion of the now defunct North Coast rail route, which runs approximately 320 miles between Marin and Humboldt counties. The coal would then be loaded onto ships in Humboldt Bay, sold overseas, and burned. The coal train would run through communities along the Russian and Eel rivers, which are the main source of drinking water for nearly 1 million residents. SB 307 explicitly states that state money cannot be spent to initiate, improve or operate rail service on the now defunct North Coast rail line north of the City of Willits. Further, it bans state money from being spent on the buildout of any new bulk coal terminal facilities within the County of Humboldt. SB 307 will help keep the creation...
Click here for full text