WHEREAS, everyone wants clean air, free from mercury poisoning. Powder River
Basin Coal has a Mercury content that ranges from 0.06 to 0.13 ppm. Mongolian
coal from the Baganuur region has a Mercury content of 0.23 ppm; nearly double
that of Powder River Basin Coal; and
WHEREAS, as of August 20, 2021 China intends to build 43 new Coal fired power
plants in the near future, and 700 in the future. The pollution controls on Asian
power plants are not as stringent as those in the USA. Leverage could be applied to increase pollution controls, by the coal supplier; and
WHEREAS, the study of the lion (Puma) hair indicates that mercury from Asia is
impacting the air in the USA; and
WHEREAS, the State of Washington Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) stated, for example, that construction and operation of the proposed terminal would raise average daily noise levels, increase the risk of accidents involving trains and vessels, and reduce air quality along the railway lines. No analyses of the impact of 43 or 700 new coal plants in Asia burning dirty coal, which will impact the entire west coast’s air quality. No weighing of the impact of twice the mercury being released and the health impacts verses the noise of the trains; and
WHEREAS, Millennium did not seek review of the FEIS; and
WHEREAS, the failure to perform a proper analysis of the entire project, using the Clean Water Act as a political weapon to stop the permitting of a viable project, does not protect the public from significant impacts. This damages the State of Wyoming’s Tax base (which should give the State standing), damages our school funding, our children, and violates the Commerce Clause; and
WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution states that the
United States Congress shall have the power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,” not the State! ; and
BE IT RESOLVED, the State of Wyoming of should pursue litigation against the State of Washington without Millennium. It should be noted that 26 States joined with Wyoming and Montana in the original litigation. The case was considered moot when Millennium declared bankruptcy. The hoops that Millennium was required to jump through would be difficult for any company to survive; and
BE IT RESOLVED, the State of Wyoming should pressure the U.S. House and Senate to modify the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) so that environmental regulations are less weaponized.
Passed:
Wyoming Republican Party, 22 May 7 State Convention
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