HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) — Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced May 9 that he has joined a coalition of states supporting a proposed coal port expansion in Washington state.
Fox joined the attorneys general of Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Kansas and Nebraska in filing a joint amicus brief in U.S. federal court.
“Politicians in Washington state have again demonstrated their willingness to hold coal states hostage,” Fox said in a statement. “Gov. Jay Inslee has made his ideological opposition to coal abundantly clear over the years, proving pro-coal projects will never get a fair shake by his administration. Fortunately, the law is on our side. I’m working to ensure hard working Montanans are treated fairly under the law.”
The pro-coal coalition is fighting against Washington’s decision to deny environmental permits for the Millennium Bulk Terminals expansion project in Longview, Washington. According to Fox’s office, the expansion is necessary to increase coal exports to growing Asian markets.
“Gov. Matt Mead [of Wyoming] and I believe that this case has broad implications for the export of commodities that are important to the economies and people of many states,” Wyoming Attorney General Peter Michael said in a statement. “Our federal system depends on evenhanded access to markets, and we are participating to vindicate Wyoming’s right to engage in interstate and international trade.”