By Roy L Hales

Port Metro Vancouver will not make a final decision about the Surrey Fraser Docks’ application to build a Direct Transfer Facility until June. According to Tim Blair, Senior Planner of Port Metro Vancouver, they are waiting for Surrey Fraser  Docks to submit a health assessment. One has to wonder if it is not a foregone conclusion. Blair said that SNC Lavelin, the same company that prepared the proposed coal facility’s Environmental Impact Statement, was retained for the health assessment.

In their original report, SNC Lavelin stated the proposed terminal would “not likely cause significant adverse effects to the environment or human health.”

Chief medical health officers Dr. Patricia Daly and Dr. Paul Van Buynder said that document did not “deal with the full scope of the project” or “meet even the most basic requirements of a health impact assessment.”

That is why Surrey Fraser Docks has been asked to do an assessment now.

Jim Crandles, the director of planning and development for Port Metro Vancouver, subsequently told a reporter from the Surrey Leader that, “We’ve asked for an assessment of the risk to human health for the components in coal dust and diesel emissions. This assessment is to evaluate the potential effects of fugitive coal dust and diesel emissions on sensitive populations – such as children or the elderly.”

He said it would also look at risks from both direct contact of residents with coal dust as well as indirect exposure, such as coal dust contamination of garden vegetables that people consume.

Crandles said the other information Fraser Surrey Docks is directed to provide includes:

• An update of the review’s air quality assessment.
• Further analysis of the composition of the coal being shipped, including metals and hydrocarbon makeup.
• More baseline information.

It seems unlikely that SNC Lavelin will reverse its opinion. Nor will  they will have to be concerned about conflicting medical opinions. Blair said this report will not be reviewed by any medical personal and the Port be seeking any additional opinions.

He believes there is already sufficient information about the effects of coal dust in current literature.

The Peace Arch News reports that Dr. Paul Van Buynder was pleased that there will be further inquiries, but also disappointed there will be no further formal comment from the medial community allowed.

“I believe this work should be done in consultation with health experts and in a fashion transparent to the concerned public,” Van Buynder said in an emailed statement. “It is important for the credibility of any further review and the decision outcome that the process is not undertaken by the proponent in isolation of public health.”

(Image of coal facility at top of page taken from the video Save the Salish Sea)