by Donald Gordon and Kevin Washbrook Last month, the Peak brought Lafarge’s Texada Quarrying Ltd. application to expand its coal handling operations out into the daylight—or at least onto the Internet [“Quarry applies to expand storage,” June 26]. Lafarge’s plans have huge implications for our region, and placing a Notice of Work in a single newspaper and a copy of the permit application at Texada Public Library are insufficient efforts at public consultation.
If plans go ahead, Lafarge will expand coal exports from Texada 20 times over current levels. Up to four open 8,000-DWT (deadweight tonnage) barges loaded with coal would travel each day through the Sabine Channel from Surrey to Texada. This is a massive increase in industrial activity on Texada Island, and we think Lafarge has done an inadequate job of informing the public of its plans—and of planning to mitigate impacts.
We encourage everyone to review the permit as a PDF on the Peak’s website and to submit comments to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas by email [email protected]. Time is short—the deadline for comments is Friday, July 19.
We think there are numerous problems with Lafarge’s permit application, starting with the fact that it only addresses stormwater management in any detail. Unfortunately, even that aspect of the application leaves much to be desired. It only commits to containing a one-in-five-year rainfall event—increasingly likely given the extreme weather events caused by climate change. The application states that coal dust suspended in runoff will be directed into an estuary during overflow events.
The permit application makes no detailed provision for the control of coal dust released from barges, nor from coal storage on this exposed site. The permit does not indicate if coal piles will be wetted to control dust, a common practice at coal ports. If freshwater will be used to wet these massive new coal piles, where will it come from? If not, how does Lafarge plan to control coal dust? What does this mean for the marine environment, local communities and shellfish harvesting?
Plans to deliver US thermal coal by rail to Surrey for export are coming under intense scrutiny for potential health and environmental impacts in the Lower Mainland. Texada and the northern Strait of Georgia deserve no less. Have a look at Lafarge’s permit application. We ask that anyone concerned by what they find there, or by what is missing, please contact the ministry to let it know.
Donald Gordon is a house builder whose family has been connected to Lasqueti Island since the late 1960s. Kevin Washbrook is a father of two residing in Vancouver. He is a full-time volunteer director with Voters Taking Action on Climate Change.
