Delta should have higher status when it comes to the environmental assessment of the proposed Terminal 2 project at Roberts Bank.
That's the gist of one of several recommendation Delta council recently endorsed as the municipality submits its input on the federal government's review of the environmental assessment process.
The government is following through on a campaign promise to review the federal environmental and regulatory processes, including the environmental assessment process, the National Energy Board, the Fisheries Act and the Navigation Protection Act.
The environmental assessment review was the first to launch with the establishment of a panel to look at processes associated with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
A report to council notes Delta has considerable experience to draw from to improve the process. One of the points is for a host municipality to have higher status in the assessment process.
The Delta report notes that by virtue of proximity, host municipalities experience the greatest impacts from large-scale projects. The environmental assessment process currently acknowledges First Nations are properly consulted and their concerns addressed, but does not accord any special status to non-indigenous host municipalities.
"The host municipality for a project should be accorded special status, equal or similar to that of First Nations, in recognition of the impacts that projects may have on local communities," the report states.
When it comes to projects on port-controlled lands, the report notes the role of port authorities as facilitators of trade as well as decision-makers on projects is problematic. The coal transfer facility at Fraser Surrey Docks was pointed out as one example.
One of the other recommendations from Delta is that the Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP), or an equivalent body, be reinstated.
The federal cabinet is to get a set of recommendations from the review of environmental regulations and processes early next year.
