Developers of the Gateway Pacific Terminal must apply for an entirely new shoreline permit if they want to build a facility capable of handling up to 54 million tons of cargo a year, including coal.
The decision from Whatcom County planners deals a setback to SSA Marine of Seattle, which proposes to build the terminal at Cherry Point, west of Ferndale.
The company says it has a valid 1997 permit for a smaller facility that could handle up to 8.2 million tons of cargo a year, not including coal (the permit mentions moving petroleum coke, iron ore, sulfur, potash and wood chips).