Fraser Surrey Docks is making changes to its proposed coal facility on the Fraser River – but the jury is still out on how the changes will be received to local opponents to the project.
Port Metro Vancouver has received an application to allow a direct coal transfer facility at Fraser Surrey Docks, which would see coal shipped via trains from the United States loaded onto barges using a conveyor system. New Westminster city council voted unanimously to oppose the shipping of thermal coals from Fraser Surrey Docks, and more than 1,000 New Westminster residents signed petitions opposing the project.
“Fraser Surrey Docks will undertake an environmental impact assessment and additional enhancements as part of Port Metro Vancouver’s review of Fraser Surrey Docks proposed direct transfer coal facility,” Fraser Surrey Docks CEO Jeff Scott said in a conference call with media Thursday afternoon. “We are confident that our proposed direct transfer coal facility can handle coal safely and without significant impact to the community and the environment. While we believe that coal dust mitigation measures we had planned were sufficient, we recognize the need for our neighbours and others to be reassured that every effort is being undertaken to ensure a safe project.”
Environmentalists and health officials have raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of the proposed facility.
At the request of Port Metro Vancouver, Fraser Surrey Docks announced that it is proposing additional coal dust control measures. A coal stockpile will no longer be used at the terminal located across from Westminster Quay.
“Originally it was proposed for use as a contingency in case a train arrived and no barges were available,” Scott said. “To minimize the risk of this occurring, additional barges will be used and the rail delivery schedules will be modified when necessary.”
Fraser Surrey Docks has commissioned SNC-Lavalin to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the project. The assessment is expected to be complete by the end of September and will be forwarded to Port Metro Vancouver.
“We will be specifically looking at the impacts of coal on human health, we will be looking at the impacts of dust through the supply chain and through the handling of the product,” Scott said. “We will be looking at noise and traffic and other components.”
Scott told media representatives that Port Metro Vancouver asked the company to consider these measures as part of its permit process.
“They specifically asked us to enhance measures around the rail, around the stockpile and around the barge,” he said. “We have taken those under consideration and have voluntarily agreed to include those in the project.”
According to Scott, BNSF Railway has voluntarily agreed to establish a re-spray facility, which will reapply a topping agent to coal in loaded rail cars. The topping agents are first applied at the mines in Montana and Wyoming.
A suppression and binding agent will also be added to the coal at Fraser Surrey Docks as it is being loaded onto the barges for transit to Texada Island. This is being done to help contain coal dust on the barges during transit from New Westminster to Texada Island.
“We have carefully listened to the community concerns and we believe these additional project components provide further certainty around dust mitigation around the terminal, rail and barge operations. and represent a significant enhancement to an already safe and reliable proposal,” Scott said.
While Fraser Surrey Docks believes the original coal dust mitigation measures it proposed were sufficient, Scott said the company recognizes the need for people to be reassured that every effort is being undertaken to ensure a safe project.
“We have voluntarily agreed to establish a re-spray station,” said BNSF spokesperson Courtney Wallace. “We are still working on the details of where that will be located and some other details. Once the coal starts coming up to Fraser Surrey Docks, that will be re-sprayed as well.”
Wallace said the railway believes that its adequately actions address coal dust, but the additional measure show the company is committed to providing a safe way to transport commodities, including coal, in the communities it serves.
In February, representatives from Port Metro Vancouver appeared before city council and assured council that issues related to “fugitive” coal dust were among the issues that it would be considering when evaluating the proposal from Fraser Surrey Dock.
