— from U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen —
In the Pacific Northwest, we know protecting the environment is essential to our way of life. That is why I am working to protect Washington state’s environment, and I am excited to share successes and updates about some of my efforts in the other Washington that make important strides toward preserving our lands, waters and wildlife.
First, my bipartisan bill to fund estuary restoration passed the House of Representatives unanimously on November 12. The bill would continue critical projects to protect and preserve estuarine habitat that so many fish, birds and mammals depend on, including the waters of the Puget Sound, which is our country’s second largest estuary.
Restoring estuaries also can help capture carbon from the air, as a recent report on the Snohomish Estuary found. Currently planned and in-progress restoration projects will result in at least 2.55 million tons of carbon dioxide sequestered from the atmosphere over the next 100 years. This is the equivalent of a year’s worth of emissions from half a million automobiles – good news for both Northwest Washington’s environment and the broader effort to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.
Second, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized my work to save the iconic Green Mountain Lookout with a 2014 national preservation award. I worked closely with organizations like the Darrington Historical Society and my colleagues in Congress to save this Pacific Northwest landmark that inspires both residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful part of the country.
Finally, I voted against the Keystone XL pipeline, a proposal that would send millions of gallons of Canadian tar sands oil through the middle of our country and would not be the job creator many have claimed. Mining oil from tar sands is heavily energy intensive, making it even more damaging to the environment and further obstructing efforts to fight climate change. Keystone XL should not get an earmark from Congress to override environmental safeguards.
Preserving habitat for our unique wildlife and protecting open spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy now and long into the future is an important priority, and one that I will continue working on during the upcoming Congress.
Are you still supporting the Cherry Point coal terminal? I’m waiting for you to see the light on that one before I can wholeheartedly support you again.
Thank you for you vote against the XL Pipeline. And may your concern for environmental protection and restoration of the sacred keep our Salish Sea out of harm’s way as the Carbon Corrider Push is met with your respect for our wellbeing.
Conspicuous by its absence is any reference by Mr. Larsen to his position on the Gateway Pacific Coal Terminal proposed for Cherry Point which would export 50 million tons of coal a year to Asia. The carbon dioxide emissions from burning that much coal each year would dwarf the emissions reductions for which he wants to take credit for estuary restoration. Moreover, the diesel locomotive emissions from all of the coal trains running up and down the western side of Washington daily through all of the major urban areas would expose countless residents to toxic air pollutants. Not to mention the risks of coal dust impacts to the Salish Sea which he claims to be protecting.
Rumor has it Mr. Larsen supports the Cherry Point coal terminal. Now that he’s safely re-elected for another two years, it’s time for him to make public his position on the Gateway Pacific Terminal. Otherwise his supposed environmental achievements ring hollow. And if he does support the coal terminal his pretense of being “green” represents blatant hypocrisy.
A politician possibly being blatantly hypocritical? I’m shocked, positively shocked! But people seem to like that trait in their elected career politicians, don’t they? Might be time for some new blood.