Coal news and updates

Westwego's elected officials Monday night continued sounding their alarm over a company's plan to ship coal through the West Jefferson city in uncovered rail cars, to a shipping facility in Plaquemines Parish.

 

The council last month enacted a resolution, expressing its unhappiness over a proposal to roll coal through the city. Now the city is considering a public hearing.

 

"There's probably not a way we're going to be able to stop them," Councilman Glenn Green conceded during a City Council meeting.

 

But Green said the city could put restrictions in place that regulate when the trains could pass through the city. Green raised his concerns during a council meeting last month, saying he and other officials learned of a proposal through news reports on Ram Terminal's plans for a new coal export facility near Ironton.

 

"They did not notify us," Green said. "They did not let us know they are going to do this."

 

Mayor Johnny Shaddinger said the Regional Planning Commission is addressing the coal proposal and is planning public hearings. "No coal" signs are sprouting up on some West Bank lawns. Green says he has one.

 

There was confusion among councilman on where the coal originates. Green says the coal will be shipped down from Nebraska on trains, crossing into West Jefferson on the Huey P. Long Bridge. Councilman Larry Warino said he was told the coal would be transferred from river barges to trains at Baton Rouge. No one had an answer.

 

Gretna officials have pushed rerouting the trains, to keep them out of that city. Westwego officials have said they don't have that option.

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.nola.com/