Coal trains not worth the price

We live in a state in which many jobs and businesses depend on tourism. Tourism is due to the natural beauty, quality of life, and high tech environment that we have fostered here in the NW. Congesting our rail lines with toxic, uncovered coal cars and the San Juan islands with huge cargo ships is certainly not going to enhance tourism and is not going to create enough jobs to justify the deterioration of the environment, quality of life, and transportation systems of our state. According to SSA marine's Gateway Terminal application, only 430 permanent jobs will be created as a result of building this huge export terminal.

Don't let the proponents of this terminal who are pouring millions of dollars into TV ads, etc fool you, these out-of-state companies stand to make enormous profits at our state's expense.

Robyn Ingham-Ali
Edmonds