PREVIOUSLY:

• Aiming to Ship Coal Out of Humboldt Bay, Shadowy Corporation Makes Bid to Take Over NCRA Line
• Sen. Mike McGuire Introduces Legislation Meant to Derail Proposed Humboldt Bay Coal Train Route
• ‘Coal Does Not Align With Our Values’: Wiyot Tribe Executives Say Proposals Did Not Specify Cargo, Council Would Not Support Project
• Huffman, Thompson Pen Letter to Buttigieg Opposing Federal Loans for ‘Disastrous’ Coal Train Project
• Supervisors Pass Resolution Opposing Potential Coal Exports Through Humboldt Bay
• Eureka City Council Approves New Ward Map, Ranked Choice Voting; Bans Coal on City-Owned Property

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Press release from Senator Mike McGuire’s office:

Senator Mike McGuire’s legislation to stop one of the largest environmental threats the North Coast has seen in decades — a proposal from a secret, clandestine operation that wants to ship millions of tons of coal through Northern California — passed with bipartisan support in the Senate Transportation Committee today.

“The proposed toxic coal train is an environmental disaster in the making. The midwest coal would travel through the Sierras, across the Golden State through the heart of our thriving communities, ancient redwoods, and directly along the banks of the Eel and Russian rivers which are the main drinking water source for nearly 1 million residents. It is crucial we stop this dangerous proposal – it transcends politics, and I am grateful for the bipartisan support today.”

SB 307 will protect California by preventing all state funding from initiating improvements on the now defunct North Coast rail line north of the City of Willits. Further, it bans state money from being spent on the buildout of any new potential bulk coal terminal facilities at the Port of Humboldt. 

The bill passed in the Senate Transportation Committee today with an 11-0 bipartisan vote. The bill will now be sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee for approval.