Dealing a “severe blow” to the export of coal out of the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) on Monday rejected a critical permit for the construction of Ambre Energy’s Morrow Pacific export terminal on the Columbia River.

“Ambre’s dirty coal project would have sent hundreds of coal trains through the region, thousands of coal barges down the Columbia River, and further disrupted our climate with dangerous carbon pollution,” writes water conservation group Columbia Riverkeeper. “DSL’s decision is a defining win for clean water, salmon, and our communities.”

Ambre, an Australian company, was seeking permission to build a permanent dock in Boardman, Oregon as part of their proposed coal export terminal, which environmentalists said would both hasten carbon pollution from increased coal consumption and threaten key waterways. The terminal would provide an outlet for over 8 million tons of coal which would be carried by rail each year from the Powder River Basin in southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming to barges in the Port of Morrow.

Over the past few months, more than 20,000 concerned citizens submitted public comments opposing the project, including over 3,000 medical professionals and public health advocates.

Announcing the denial of permit, DSL director Mary Abrams writes, “We believe our decision is the right one, considering our regulatory parameters laid out in Oregon law, and the wealth of information we have received from the applicant and the public.”