The Editor,
It is crunch time. The proposal by Air Canada, WestJet and the other VAFFC airlines must be stopped.
Tankers loaded with jet fuel cannot be allowed in the Fraser River. You can help. Write to MLA Terry Lake, Prime Minster Harper and Premier Christy Clark and tell them "NO"!
Thus far MP Alice Wong, MLA Rob Howard and MLA John Yap have refused to hear the almost 6,000 people who signed the VAPOR petition. However, we wish to thank MLA Linda Reid, MLA Vicky Huntington and MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay for their support in opposing the VAFFC proposal.
YVR needs a reliable source for the delivery of jet fuel to the airport, not the worst possible plan imaginable, which would threaten our precious Fraser River, marine life and the fishing industry, not to mention the people who could be unlucky enough to be close by if an explosion should occur at the marine terminal.
It is inconceivable that the provincial and federal governments would even consider approving a plan that allows for an 80 million-litre jet fuel tank farm on the shores of the Fraser River and massive panamax ships loaded with jet fuel to cross over the shallow Massey Tunnel.
You can make a difference. Write a letter or make a call and tell them to consider more viable options such as upgrading the existing pipeline or building a new pipeline to the Cherry Point refinery in Washington State.
Alternatively, leave the existing pipeline and use it to its full capacity instead of only 80 per cent and then use tanker trucks to buy cheap fuel from the Cherry Point refinery.
The BCEAO is likely to make a decision before Christmas and that decision will go to MLA Terry Lake, Minister of Environment.
We need to make him understand that we do not accept the risk that this proposal subjects us to, we do not accept the responsibility for fighting fires and toxic cleanup efforts.
This proposal by Air Canada, WestJet and the other airlines is unfair to the City of Richmond and the City of Delta, both of whom have opposed this irresponsible plan.
The BCEAO process has not been open and transparent. The airlines and the VAFFC have worked with Port Metro Vancouver to try and mitigate every possible hurdle to make the proposal seem safe and viable, but they have not fooled the people.
We know that there are far better options for the delivery of jet fuel and we say NO. Join us.
Carol Day chair, VAPOR
