After more than five hours of delegations - as well as a hearty debate among directors and a break to go into closed session to get legal advice - Metro Vancouver's board voted against the proposed coal facility at Fraser Surrey Docks.
Six-and-a-half hours after Friday's meeting got underway, the board voted to oppose coal shipments from the Fraser River estuary, other than the existing Roberts Bank coal port. It will also write Port Metro Vancouver to request detailed information on its review process for permit applications for expanded and new coal handling infrastructure at Neptune Terminals in North Vancouver and Fraser Surrey Docks, and to advise of its support for the inclusion of health impact assessments in the review of expanded and new coal handling infrastructure, as has been suggested by representatives of Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal heath authorities.
Port Metro Vancouver has received an application to allow the Fraser Surrey Docks to accommodate a facility where coal is loaded from trains onto barges using a conveyor system.
Mayor Wayne Wright, a director on the board, joined the majority of directors who supported the recommendation by Metro Vancouver staff.
Industry officials, including those who would work at the site, urged the board to lend it support to the project because it would support the economy and create jobs.
Opponents of the project expressed concern about global greenhouse gases and the impact of coal on climate change, the transport of coal through the region and B.C. waterways, diesel particulate from rail transporting the coal that is coming from the United States and being shipped to Asia, environment and health benefits of exposure to fugitive coal dust.
Tim Takaro, a scientist at Simon Fraser University, said society is addicted to fossil fuels.
"We are asking the board to please help us kick the habit," he said.
Takaro, a New Westminster resident, also expressed concern about the type of coal that's proposing to be shipped on the site.
"It is both deadly and an economic dead end," he said.
Jeff Scott, president and CEO of Fraser Surrey Docks, said the facility has a proven track record of safe and reliable operations. He said Fraser Surrey Docks has seen a "significant downturn" in business since the economic downfall of 2008.
Scott said Fraser Surrey Docks is seeking a permit to build a coal facility within its existing operation, which would allow for the direct transfer of coal from trains to barges through an enclosed system. He said a comprehensive mitigation strategy is also in place and steps will be taken to control dust through the entire supply chain.
"We are confident coal can be barged safely," he said.
According to Scott, Fraser Surrey Docks will use best practices to create safe and efficient facilities. He said the site would be monitored on a daily basis and would respond accordingly if necessary.
While provisions will be made at the Surrey site to stockpile coal if necessary, Scott said Fraser Surrey Docks is "very confident" it would not require stockpiling of the coal. In a worst-case scenario, he said coal would have to be stockpiled for less than 48 hours.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr told the Metro Vancouver board that the issue is likely one of the most important issues that would be considered by the board. With Port Metro Vancouver having expressed concern about the shortage of industrial land in the region, he questioned if a project that would create 16 to 20 jobs at the site and 50 throughout the entire chain is the best use of the prime industrial site.
"It is a very dirty coal," he said. "It is the lowest priced coal on the market."
Puchmayr said the type of coal that would be handled at the site is very volatile and has been known to ignite on its own. He worries about the safety of people being exposed to fugitive coal dust.
"The health hazards are real," he said.
Puchmayr is also concerned that a representative of the Surrey Board of Trade has suggested the proposal could eventually create up to 200 jobs, which would indicate there is a "significant" plan to expand operations in the future. He also questioned the ability to close the coal port facility in the future if necessary, given the North American Free Trade agreement.
"This dock right across the water from us will be affecting us extremely adversely," he said.
Andrew Murray, coal spokesperson for New Westminster Environmental Partners, said the group is "gravely" concerned about the project.
"The risks, there are too many," he said. "And there are very serious consequences."
Murray said the trains carrying the coal would be closely passing 12 schools and exposing kids to diesel and coal dust. "It's our position it is simply not worth the risk," he added.
Murray said it's "inevitable" that uncovered coal will be stored at the Fraser Surrey Docks site.
Murray also said coal will be shipped on barges, uncovered, to Texada Island because the industry has determined it's not economically feasible to cover the barges. He said it's "unacceptable" to cut corners at the expense of health and environment.
"We need to put the brakes on this type of expansion," he said about coal's role in climate change.
Murray said China has been scaling back its use of coal, a product that has contributed to health issues among its residents.
"This is a 19th century proposal for a 20th century world," he said.
Representatives of the B.C. Marine Employers Association, the Coal Alliance, B.C. Wharf Operators Association and the International Longshoremen's Association were among the groups that expressed support for the jobs that would be created and the economic benefits of the project. They are confident safety provisions will ensure workers are safe and mitigation measures will protect the environment.
Alan Fryer, spokesperson for the Coal Alliance, said the alliance is confident that the mitigation measure undertaken will ensure safety. He said opposition to the project isn't based on fact or legitimate health concerns.
"We work to some of the highest environmental standards in the world," he said.
On June 13, the alliance released an Angus Reid public poll that indicated 65 per cent of British Columbians agree that as a resource-based economy, B.C. should be exporting coal to overseas markets as long as all environmental laws and regulations are followed.
A Panorama Ridge resident told the board that residents in his community continually wash coal dust off of their decks, cars and houses, but the "scary part" is that they are breathing in air that contains coal dust and they don't really know the impact. He said it's "particularly galling" that B.C. is considering the shipment of coal from the United States because American citizens have opposed shipping it out of their ports.
Karla Graf, an environmental consultant from Triton Environment, said there will be "limited" potential for dust. Graf, working on behalf of the applicant, stated that numerous mitigation measures have been proposed to deal with dust and water management.
In addition, she said the air quality would be monitored both on and offsite.
Environmentalists and citizens, however, expressed concern about the potential impact of fugitive coal dust on air quality, health and the water quality of local streams and the Fraser River.
A Richmond father stated that British Columbia is already feeling the effects of climate change, including the quality of shell fish, more intense forest fires, increased flooding, and the pine beetle infestation, which has wreaked "havoc" both economically and socially.
A North Vancouver resident expressed concern about residents "fighting a losing battle" to be heard by Port Metro Vancouver regarding projects in that community and concerns neighbours want to address such as noise, diesel dust and grain dust from facilities on port lands.
One speaker told Metro Vancouver directors that the bigger picture is to allow bigger vessels to travel the Fraser River when the Massey Tunnel is replaced. He added that the closest homes to Fraser Surrey Docks site are only 400 metres away from the site and two elementary schools are located less than one kilometre away from the Fraser Surrey Docks site.
Quayside resident James Crosty showed images of agricultural dust originating at the Fraser Surrey Docks site and expressed concern about potential coal dust.
"New Westminster has the worst air quality in the Lower Mainland," he said. "That is on record."
Crosty said the replacement of the Massey Tunnel would allow "unprecedented expansion" of coal exporting in a heavily populated area.
"It's simply the wrong location," he said about the project.
Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, said the board supports the project because it will increase economic development and jobs.
