Assessment excludes Texada
Port Metro Vancouver is accepting public feedback on an environmental impact assessment conducted by Fraser Surrey Docks (FSD) on its proposed direct transfer coal facility in Surrey. A 30-day public comment period started on Monday, November 18, and ends at 4 pm on Tuesday, December 17.
An electronic copy of the environmental impact assessment and information regarding the project are available on the website.
FSD has applied to the agency for a project permit to build coal-handling facilities within its existing terminal operations that would allow the direct transfer of coal from trains to barges. The barges would carry coal to Texada Quarrying Ltd., owned by Lafarge Canada Inc., where it would be stored before transfer to deep-sea vessels for export to Asia.
The environmental impact assessment does not include Texada Island. Eighty island residents have written to Lafarge urging the company to support Dr. Paul Martiquet’s request for an independent health impact assessment. Martiquet is Vancouver Coastal Health’s medical health officer for the Sunshine Coast. Dr. Perry Kendall, BC’s provincial health officer, Dr. Patricia Daly, Vancouver Coastal Health’s chief medical health officer, and Dr. Paul Van Buynder, Fraser Health Authority’s chief medical officer, have all called for an independent health impact assessment of the proposal.
Residents are concerned about: airborne coal dust potentially contaminating air, land, the ocean and drinking water; diesel exhaust; storm water management; excessive noise; and the impacts of increased marine traffic.
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