BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The state Court of Appeals has sided with Whatcom County Superior Court’s ruling to block a measure banning coal trains in Bellingham from the November ballot.

The appeals court agreed on Monday that the so called "Community Bill of Rights" went beyond the powers of the initiative process.

Stoney Bird with No Coal! Bellingham says the court of appeals denied their request for an emergency stay of the local court’s decision.



He says citizen initiatives are an important part of our law-making process, and the courts should let people vote on the issue.

Bird says the No Coal! group will continue trying to stop coal trains, although probably not with another ordinance like the Community Bill of Rights.