Citing inadequate public consultation and a failure to consider climate impact, community groups have filed for a judicial review of Fraser Surrey Docks and Port Metro Vancouver’s approval of a coal transfer facility on the Fraser River that will see two barges of coal pass along the south arm daily.
Led by Ecojustice, an environmental law organization, the applicants are concerned up to four million metric tonnes of sub-bituminous thermal coal will harm the local environment and effectively contribute to global climate change.
“Our clients were there every step of the way, and they saw conduct that suggests Port Metro Vancouver’s approval was a done deal before the permit review process had even concluded,” said Karen Campbell, Ecojustice staff lawyer.
“Our clients’ case not only alleges bias, it also challenges the Port’s failure to consider the dangerous climate impacts of burning the coal once it reaches Asia,” Campbell added in a news release last week.
On Monday Richmond City Council passed a motion to write a letter to Port Metro Vancouver about its “concerns.”
According to a city staff report, about 130 coal cars from Wyoming will arrive at the facility daily. The coal will be barged down the river to another transfer facility off Vancouver Island.
The project did not trigger an environmental review, according to staff. It also never accounted for the city’s concerns as it was “inferred to be outside the impacted area.”
Not only are there concerns of coal dust (and a lack of an apparent monitoring plan) along the river’s shores as well as the risk of spills, burning such a large amount of coal daily would be tantamount to adding 1.6 million passenger vehicles to the road, said Campbell.
“We’re getting hit with a double whammy so that coal companies and the port can make a quick buck,” she said.
Other critics have questioned the economic benefits as well, as China aims to reduce its coal imports.
