A New Westminster city councillor is hoping city council will oppose a coal expansion proposal across the river.
At council's May 13 meeting, Coun. Chuck Puchmayr presented a notice of motion recommending that the city communicate its opposition to the shipping of thermal coal from Fraser Surrey Docks. Council will consider Puchmayr's notice of motion at its next meeting, which takes place on May 27.
Fraser Surrey Docks has submitted a project permit application to Port Metro Vancouver to develop a direct transfer coal facility that could handle up to four million metric tonnes of coal. The site is located across the Fraser River from Westminster Quay.
Puchmayr said the city has been trying to get information from Port Metro Vancouver regarding the health and environmental aspects of the proposed expansion at Fraser Surrey Docks but hasn't had a lot of success. He said the city has also contacted the federal government about the proposal, but has been told that it's Port Metro Vancouver's jurisdiction.
"We are not getting results," he said. "I now feel we have done everything we could have done to get the information."
Rather than opposing the project from the outset, Puchmayr said the city has been trying to gather facts about the proposal.
"We are not getting the answers," he said. "We wanted a public meeting in New Westminster. We have been denied that - we are probably the most dense area that is going to be affected by this."
The preamble to Puchmayr's notice of motion states that the facility would be used to "ship volatile thermal coal from the United States" through Fraser Surrey Docks, which is in the vicinity of "our densely populated city", and that Port Metro Vancouver has not been able to clearly disclose all health and safety data related to this product, including flame retardant solutions required to stabilize the volatility of this coal.
Fraser Surrey Docks is hosting two open houses in Surrey at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford, where people will be able to discuss the project and pose questions to Fraser Surrey Docks staff. The meetings are being held on Thursday, May 23 from 5: 30 to 8: 30 p.m. and Saturday, May 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Fraser Surrey Docks is accepting feedback on the proposed coal facility until June 7. People can email feedback to @fsd.bc.ca or complete an online questionnaire at www.fsd. bc.ca/index.php/survey.
