Corps halts review of Oregon coal export terminal

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has brought its review of a proposed coal export terminal to an immediate halt, a blow to the Australian company trying to get coal from the Northern Rockies to an eager Asian market.

Last month, Oregon state regulators rejected the proposed terminal on the Columbia River because it would potentially interfere with tribal fishing rights.

On Monday, the Corps announced it had put its review on hold while a judge considers an appeal of the state's decision.

An Australian company, Ambre Energy, proposed to have coal shipped by rail from Wyoming and Montana to the terminal in northeast Oregon.

There the coal would be loaded onto barges headed for another terminal closer to the mouth of the river and then exported.