By Julia Walsh
Richmond has one of the few remaining coal-exporting terminals on the entire West Coast. Situated right on the San Francisco Bay waterfront, the Levin-Richmond Terminal stores coal and petroleum coke (a.k.a. petcoke, a dirty fuel that’s a byproduct of the petroleum refining process) in massive uncovered piles that waft dirty coal dust and smaller particles into the surrounding communities.
The particle pollution from local coal and petcoke exports worsens heart and lung disease; stains cars, homes, and businesses with black dust; and fouls the Bay. Open-top coal trains moving through the city to the Terminal spew even more coal dust and diesel exhaust to exacerbate health problems and contaminate waterways. After the coal and petcoke leave the terminal and are burned at their destination, the resulting greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global climate change — with effects on us locally including rising water levels, air pollution, poor health, and more.
People in Richmond suffer from some of the highest rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and stroke found in the Bay Area because of air pollution from coal trains, the Chevron refinery, and other industrial facilities. The most damaging dust particles are too small to see but lodge in our lungs when we inhale, cause irritation and inflammation, and worsen asthma, cardiovascular disease, and strokes. These particles are smaller than the width of a human hair and are called Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5).
Getting rid of coal in Richmond is our ultimate goal, but right now we have an opportunity to mediate the harm done by coal and petcoke dust. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is currently drafting new rules to stop dust and air pollution from sources like the huge open piles of coal and petcoke at the Richmond terminal. Unfortunately, the new rules seem unlikely to decrease PM2.5 since they lack accountability and depend on visual reporting of dust clouds (even though the PM2.5 particles are too small to see).
What You Can Do:
We need your help to improve these rules and protect local health: Please come to have your voice heard at next Monday’s meeting at BAAQMD headquarters. This calendar listing will provide updates about the time when these draft rules will be discussed.
Date: Monday, December 18th
Time: Meet at 10:30 am (our item is #4 on the agenda)
Location: BAAQMD headquarters, 375 Beale Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
RSVP here
You can also help by joining our No Coal in Richmond coalition. Come to the group’s January 9th community meeting to find out what more you can do. More information about meeting location and agenda will be posted on our online calendar closer to the date.