A community forum against coal export will be held at the Milwaukie High School Auditorium (11300 S.E. 23rd Ave., Milwaukie) on Thursday, September 27, 2012, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The forum helps citizens to learn more about the proposed coal shipment trains passing through Milwaukie to coastal ports to export coal to Asia. Four 1.5-mile long coal trains would pass through Milwaukie alone to the Coos Bay, Oregon, coal terminal.
The forum also helps concerned citizens prepare for public comment for the Milwaukie City Council before the Council votes on a coal train resolution on Oct. 16, 2012.
Milwaukie Mayor Jeremy Ferguson; Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, Columbia Riverkeeper; Bethany Cotton, Greenpeace USA; Dr. Susan Katz, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility; Chris Ortolano, co-chair Milwaukie Coal Task Force; Matt Rinker, co-chair Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood District Association; and Sattie Clark, CEO Eleek Inc. Lighting Fixtures are scheduled to participate in the forum.
Citizens may send comments regarding coal trains to City of Milwaukie by email to coaltraininput@ci.milwaukie.or.us through October 15, 2012.
The proposed coal train route would pass on the railroad tracks along Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association’s (AJC NDA) western boundary.
At a special neighborhood meeting on Aug. 21, 2012, AJC NDA voted unanimously in favor of a resolution opposing coal trains. No one at the special meeting did speak in support of coal trains.
More resources about the coal trains can be found on the Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association website at http://www.ardenwald.org/coaltrains.