Levin-Richmond Terminal

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{{#badges: CoalSwarm |Navbar-Coalexports}}Levin-Richmond Terminal is a dry bulk cargo marine terminal on the San Francisco Bay in Richmond, California. It is privately owned by the Levin Richmond Terminal Corporation.[1]

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Coal

Levin Richmond Terminal Corporation began exporting coal in 2013. It had already been exporting petcoke for decades. The petcoke comes from the Phillips66 refinery to load onto boats headed for Australia and Europe.[2]

In June 2013 Arch Coal sold its Utah coal mines to Bowie Resources. Bowie said it had agreed to ship 2.1 million tonnes of coal through the Port of Stockton, and had been in negotiations with Levin Richmond Terminal Corporation for the port of Richmond, which would provide Bowie with annual “topping off” capacity of an additional 1 million tonnes per annum. Bowie also has mines in Colorado.[3]

In 2014 Richmond exported a million tonnes of coal and petcoke combined. Most coal exports are to Japan and Mexico.[2]

Public opposition

In 2012 San Francisco Baykeeper sued the Levin-Richmond Terminal over its handling of petcoke, saying coal dust was blowing into the water in violation of the Clean Water Act. Admitting no wrongdoing, the company settled the lawsuit in 2014; the terminal operator agreed to enclose the conveyor system it used to load the ships and to stop loading when the wind is too strong. According to KQED: "Nothing has been done, however, to address potential health problems related to airborne particles from the piles of coal and petcoke, or from the rail cars that transport the coal." The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is expected to begin parsing new regulations on coal and petcoke dust in late 2015.[2]

In May 2015, the Richmond City Council passed a resolution opposing the mining, export, and burning of coal, as well as the transport of coal and petcoke along waterways and through densely populated areas. Oakland and San Francisco passed similar resolutions banning the transport of coal and pet coke in their cities.[4]

Project Details

  • Sponsor: Bowie Resources
  • Location: Richmond, California
  • Coal Capacity (Million tonnes per annum): 1
  • Status: Operating
  • Type: Exports (Japan and Mexico)
  • Coal Source: Utah, Colorado

Articles and Resources

References

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