WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today released the following statement on the partnership between Cloud Peak Energy, the Crow Tribe of Indians and SSA Marine in the Gateway Pacific Terminal, located in the northwest corner of Washington State:
“The Crow Tribe’s economic opportunities have long been tied with the future of the Gateway Pacific Terminal,” Daines stated. “With this announcement, the importance of this project to the Crow Tribe is greater than ever. It is imperative that the Army Corps of Engineers fully consider the Crow Tribe’s right to self-determination and the impact of this project on the Tribe’s economic future.”
“The Crow Tribe’s ownership in the Gateway Pacific Terminal is further proof of the importance of this critical infrastructure project to the entire State of Montana. I am looking forward to touring the site next week and speaking with the Crow more about the project,” Zinke stated. “For too long, economic opportunity for the Crow has been stifled by outside bureaucrats and interests. Senator Daines and I remain committed to doing everything we can to see this project completed for the Crow Tribe and for Montana.”
The Gateway Pacific Terminal is a proposed deep-water port in Washington State, just north of Seattle, that would create a port for Montana exporters to access markets in the Pacific Rim via a rail line.
Under the new announcement, the Crow Tribe will have the option to secure 5 percent ownership from Cloud Peak Energy. Cloud Peak Energy will own 49 percent while SSA Marine will own 51 percent of the company’s shares.
Daines and Zinke recently led a bipartisan group of sixteen Senators and seventeen House members in urging the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the required review process for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal before making any decisions that could impact the project’s future. Their letter can be found here.
The project is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs and has a diverse coalition of support from groups including the Crow Nation, local labor unions, business organizations, the agriculture industry, and local governments. Dozens of letters from various groups were submitted in favor of the project and can be found here.
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