Time is running out for folks wanting to comment on the latest coal proposal at Fraser Surrey Docks.
Fraser Surrey Docks has applied to Port Metro Vancouver to amend its existing permit to build and operate a direct transfer coal facility at its site across the river from Westminster Quay and Queensborough. If approved, Fraser Surrey Docks would be permitted to load coal directly from the facility onto ocean-going vessels.
Anyone wishing to provide feedback before the Aug. 21 deadline can do so online by following the links from www.fsd.bc.ca/amendment.
Volunteers with the Dogwood Initiative have been canvassing the Royal City to garner support for their stance on coal. The Dogwood Initiative’s Beyond Coal campaign seeks to prevent further expansion of U.S. thermal coal exports in B.C., to require independent health and environmental assessment before considering new coal shipping projects and to ensure British Columbians have a say about export activities affecting their families and communities.
The Dogwood Initiative is getting people to comment on the proposal through its webform, which is found at dogwoodinitiative.org/beyondcoal/act.
Earlier this year, New Westminster city council voted to continue opposing the coal facility. Council also expressed concern about the lack of a public health analysis and a scientific analysis of the impacts of the project, and that the global impacts of greenhouse gases from the proposal aren’t considered as part of the approval process.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said the Safe Energy Leadership Alliance is sending a letter opposing the plan directly to Port Metro Vancouver.
The City of New Westminster has written to Port Metro Vancouver asking that the review of the proposed direct transfer coal facility be consistent with the region’s economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives. A copy of the letter will go to Fraser Surrey Docks.
Under the previous proposal, coal mined in the United States would have been transported by rail to Fraser Surrey Docks, where it would be loaded onto barges and shipped to Texada Island, then loaded onto ships and transported to Asia. The amendment would allow the coal to be loaded directly onto ships at Fraser Surrey Docks.
“Given the significantly altered method for loading coal and the city’s previously expressed concerns about health and air quality impacts and the review and approval process that was utilized, it is New Westminster’s position that PMV should withdraw the previously issued permit, consider the permit amendment request to be a new application and review this new application fully using the Port’s revised project review process that came into effect on July 15, 2015,” stated the City of New Westminster in an Aug. 15 letter to Port Metro Vancouver. “Although this process is new, our understanding is that it is intended to increase transparency and provide greater opportunity for input than the previous process from the community and key stakeholders, such as municipalities, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Health Authority.”
Fraser Surrey Docks’ website states that all community and stakeholder feedback will be summarized and posted on its website.
Jill Buchanan, director of human resources and communications at Fraser Surrey Docks, said Port Metro Vancouver will get both a summary of the feedback, and a copy of all the feedback received.
