As the people of Washington and Oregon turn their back on new coal port proposals, producers have turned to British Columbia. Neptune Terminals’ coal port capacity, in North Vancouver, was doubled, without any public consultation and the city’s request for a health impact assessment was ignored. Resistance to the proposed coal terminal at Fraser Surrey docks was more determined. The Port Authority carried out assessments before approving the project, but there has been grounds for believing the project was decided upon long before the official outcome. Ecojustice has undertaken this case on behalf of Voters Taking Action Against Climate Change and Communities and Coal. This morning I’m interviewing Ecojustice lawyer Karen Campbell about the fight to keep coal from Fraser Surrey Docks
Though Port Metro Vancouveris expected to release its final decision about the Fraser Surrey Docks next month, there is little doubt that the proposal will be approved. An estimated four million tonnes per year of thermal coal will soon be coming up from the US. Will the Fraser Surrey Docks Expansion Bring Aerosolized Coal Dust?
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.”
Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) is not ready to make a decision regarding Surrey Fraser Dock’s application to build a Direct Transfer Facility to handle up to 4 million metric tonnes of coal at their facility in Surrey, B.C.
In a press release issued today, The Port said there are areas that it will “require further information (from Surrey Fraser Docks) , particularly around the assessment of the potential effects of the project on human health.”
While most of us are attempting to do away with fossil fuels, British Columbia is trying to ramp up production. Some plan to make this most beautiful of Canadian provinces a major exporter of American coal and tar sands bitumen. One of the most promising natural gas fields in the world is in the north eastern corner of our province. Some aspects of this have been well publicized in the Canadian media, as every level of government – from our Prime Minister, to the Premier of BC, to individual municipalities – are involved. The Wilderness Committee have provided the best overview, a must-see Climate Change video: “Save the Salish Sea.”
