The environmental review into the jet fuel delivery plan has been suspended for the second time.
VAFFC - the consortium of airlines that want to barge jet fuel up the south arm of the Fraser River and then pipe it through Richmond to YVR - requested the review into its plan be halted yet again.
The consortium said it asked for the suspension this time because Environment Canada requested more information on the potential effects of an aviation fuel spill.
The BCEAO (British Columbian Environmental Assessment Office), which will ultimately be responsible for issuing the certificate the project needs, has granted the request and it's now another several months before the process will kick-start once more.
VAFFC has already managed to temporarily halt the process once before, last time to introduce the option of running the 15-kilometre pipeline up Highway 99 as opposed to through residential Richmond.
"This information will further the overall understanding of fuel behaviour and mitigation measures to be put in place," VAFFC's project director, Adrian Pollard, stated of further studies it will now carry out.
"While the studies are relatively straightforward, they are expected to take several months to complete. The current review schedule would not provide sufficient time for the studies to be included in the joint assessment report to be prepared by the EAO and Port Metro Vancouver."
Richmond-based protest group VAPOR, set up to fight the proposal, lambasted the consortium and the environmental review process after learning of another suspension.
"This latest suspension of the process could now make this 180-day review process into a multi-year review process as they attempt to patch up shortcomings in their proposal to make it appear more palatable to the public," said VAPOR's Carol Day in a press release.
"These last two suspensions were requested so VAFFC could address some of the complaints raised by VAPOR and the public.
"VAFFC seems to see the BCEAO process as an iterative process whereby they can patch up their proposal as complaints come in."
VAPOR also accused BCEAO of allowing the "constant moving of the goalposts to keep the public confused as to the major objection to the proposal.
"It is clearly apparent that the biggest shortcoming has not been addressed in any way, i.e., the strong public, City of Richmond and VAPOR opposition to any bulk jet fuel tankers entering any arm of the Fraser River or the estuary to proactively and responsibly protect the river, its abundant fish and wildlife resources, property and public safety."
Coun. Harold Steves, a vehement opponent to the plan, said such suspension requests simply wouldn't happen if the proposal was subject to a full federal review.
"(The consortium) keep doing this, that's what's wrong with this provincial review process," said Steves.
"(Suspensions) haven't happened before I don't think, a federal review would not allow this to keep happening."
Steves, however, added that he was happy that at least Environment Canada has been listened to and that more studies will be done, albeit by the proponent, into the potential effects of a spill on the Fraser.
