DRAIN — Shipping Montana and Wyoming coal across Oregon to the International Port of Coos Bay for export to Asia could be done safely and would be an economic boom for Southern Oregon, U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio said Monday. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, coal shipments to China, South Korea and other countries can’t be prevented, the Springfield Democrat told about 50 people at a town hall at the Drain Civic Center. Preventing environmental damage would require that coal be transported in enclosed cars and unloaded in enclosed facilities to keep coal dust from blowing away, DeFazio said. …




