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Feds & province both have important coal role: report

Surrey Fraser Docks plan going through review by Port Metro Vancouver
coal
Port Metro Vancouver has approved Fraser Surrey Docks' coal handling proposal.

It's clear both the provincial and federal governments have an important role in addressing potential impacts from the highly contentious proposed Surrey Fraser Docks coalhandling proposal.

That was the conclusion of a staff report to Delta council last month on Port Metro Vancouver's recent response to an interagency review committee, which discussed concerns about the plan by Surrey Fraser Docks to develop part of its 63-hectare site on the south side of the Fraser River to transfer thermal coal brought in by rail from Wyoming.

Saying rail issues are outside Port Metro Vancouver's project review process, port authority president and CEO Robin Silvester recently wrote to the committee, noting PMV's review of the project is limited to federal lands it manages and does not include the rail corridor. He encouraged the committee to raise the issues with the appropriate regulatory authorities.

However, he assured that the proposal would not proceed until the port is satisfied that it will not result in significant adverse environmental effects.

"At the end of the review process, we fully expect to make an informed decision that will properly consider the comments made by all interested parties, including those provided by members of the committee," Silvester said.

The committee, which had representatives from Delta, Metro Vancouver, White Rock, MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay's office, as well as a representative from the B.C. environment ministry, but no one from the port, found that while other coal handling facilities in the region are subject to regulation though Metro Vancouver's air quality permits, there's uncertainty whether a permit is required for the controversial proposal now being considered by Port Metro Vancouver. The committee agreed that a Metro Vancouver air quality permit should be required and that a human health impact assessment be considered as part of the permit review process.

"Using the expertise of the committee and the Air Quality Permit process will not only lead to better outcomes but will undoubtedly assist Port Metro Vancouver with public acceptance of the findings regardless of what they may be," the committee stated in a letter to PMV last month.

It also requested an open and transparent process accompanied by accurate, unbiased information through the requested comprehensive health impact assessment.

The Delta report to council notes PMV's latest response highlights the uncertainty as to what is the appropriate regulatory authority to deal with emissions from rail transportation. There are no federal laws that specifically address air pollution from rail transportation, but in 2007 the Railway Association of Canada, Environment Canada and Transport Canada signed a voluntary memorandum of understanding to reduce locomotive smog forming and greenhouse gas emissions. Particulate emissions from cargo such as coal are not addressed in the agreement, though.

"Staff do not accept Port Metro Vancouver's response and committee members feel Port Metro Vancouver should make compliance with all other regulatory approvals a condition of a project permit and explicitly note and acknowledge Metro Vancouver's jurisdiction in this regard," the report by CAO George Harvie states.