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Rep. Peter DeFazio said that trying to block plans to ship coal to Asia won't stop countries like South Korea from burning coal to produce electricity. He added that free trade agreements make it illegal for the U.S. to block coal exports to South Korea.<ref>[http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/08/shipping_coal_to_asia_from_coo.html "Shipping coal to Asia from Coos Bay sounds good to Peter DeFazio" ] Associated Press, August 17, 2012.</ref>

In July 2012 a train transporting coal derailed and spilled 31 cars of coal in the Eastern Washington town of Mesa, in Franklin County. Opponents of increased coal shipments through the Northwest pointed to the spill as an example of the risk posed by increased coal transports through the region.<ref>[http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/loaded-coal-train-derails-in-columbia-river-gorge/ "Loaded Coal Train Derails in Columbia River Gorge"] National Wildlife Federation, July 3, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018589667_apwacoaltrainderailment1stldwritethru.html "Cleaning up derailed coal in Franklin County town, "] Associated Press, July 3, 2012.</ref>