Organizers from the Surrey citizens’ group Communities and Coal are organizing a town hall style meeting in Powell River for Saturday, August 17.
The meeting will give residents a chance to discuss the health and environmental impacts of the proposed expansion of the Texada Island coal port.
There are growing concerns among residents in the the Pacific Northwest and Metro Vancouver about the impacts a 20-fold increase in thermal coal shipments will have.
The thermal coal, different in composition from coal used in steel-making, is used for generating electricity and is being mined in Wyoming and Montana. The coal is being shipped by train in open box cars through the western United States and up to a proposed coal port in Surrey. From there the coal will be loaded onto barges and shipped to Texada Island where it will be transferred to ocean freighters and shipped to Asian markets. The expansion will make BC the largest coal exporter in North America, according to Communities and Coal.
Dr. Frank James is a Washington State-based health officer and teaches at the University of Washington. He is visiting communities which will be affected by the coal shipments and is calling for an independent, objective health impact assessment of the project.
He will be making a presentation about the health impacts of the proposed expansion at 7 pm on Saturday, August 17 at the Powell River Recreation Complex.
The group organized similar meetings in the South Surrey communities of Ocean Park and White Rock.
James’ presentation to the White Rock town hall meeting can be viewed online at bit.ly/16NHUF8
