Assemblymember Mia Bonta introduced the Community First Coal Review Act (AB 40) in order to protect the clean air and health of East Bay cities from the devastating impacts of a new coal export terminal. The bill would require a full Environmental Impact Report before any local agency may grant a discretionary approval for a new or expanded coal handling, storage, or export facility with a design capacity exceeding 5 million short tons per year.

In June, Donald Trump announced a $75 million investment into a proposed massive coal export terminal next to the Bay Bridge. The Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT) would bring coal trains from states like Utah and Wyoming straight into West Oakland, which is already burdened by historically poor air quality and health disparities. The coal terminal would have far ranging health consequences all along the East Bay, including in Martinez, Richmond, Albany, Berkeley, and Emeryville. Currently, OBOT has had no environmental impact review that addresses coal handling, shipping, and storage. AB 40 will lock in a robust California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review so we can understand the true cost of bringing coal to our community before construction begins.

Coal transport and storage have been proven to increase ambient levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), exposure to which can significantly increase rates of childhood asthma and cardiovascular disease in communities already experiencing health disparities. AB 40 would require that any bulk coal terminal undergo full and up-to-date analysis to mitigate the impacts of that toxic pollution.

Additional sponsors:

West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project