Delta should be taking a much stronger stand against a highly controversial jet fuel delivery proposal.
That's what Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington had to say Tuesday following a press conference in Richmond organized by opponents of the contentious plan, a gathering that also had several members of Richmond council on hand.
Owned by a consortium of airlines that use YVR, the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation is proposing to ship jet fuel to a new tank farm that would be built on the Richmond side of the south arm of the Fraser River. An underground pipeline would then send the fuel to the airport.
Concerned about the government's Dec. 24 deadline that could see the proposal approved, Vancouver Airport Project Opposition for Richmond (VAPOR) held the event at Garry Point Park to renew its call for the proposal to be defeated, citing the huge risks to environment and residents.
The citizens' group said despite over 1,000 days of supposed review, concerns have not been answered and the public hasn't been afforded a hearing.
Huntington, who was at the press conference, told the Optimist the plan should concern everyone, including Delta, where the estuary is threatened. Despite
the dangers, she said nothing much has been said on this side of the Fraser.
"My preference from my council,
I would like to see them a little more outspoken on some of these issues that are so important to Delta and to the environment," she said.
"This is one that needs their support and Richmond, and the environment, need their outspoken support," Huntington added.
Delta staff have been participating on the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office Working Group for the project.
An "oil spill emergency plan" identified strategic locations to deploy booms to protect Ladner Reach and sensitive marshes of the lower south arm of the Fraser River, but further work on the plan is ongoing.
Several concerns have been raised by Delta, prompting council last fall to agree to write to the federal and provincial ministers of environment as well as the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office "advising of Delta's concerns and opposition to the proposed tanker facility on the Fraser River, until such time as a full understanding is provided on potential pipeline options."
The wording of the resolution isn't as strong as the opposition expressed by
Richmond council, which has been highly critical of the project and the environmental review process. In a phone interview, Delta Coun. Bruce McDonald, noting there's currently about 40 large tanker trucks carrying fuel across the Alex Fraser Bridge daily to the airport, said a pipeline appears to be the best way to transport the material.
"The airport is not going to go away. They need fuel for airplanes. This may not be the best one, where they want to build the receiving port and storage facility on the Richmond side of the river, but I'm not totally convinced there's a better alternative," he said.
"I would like to see a pipeline that runs right from Cherry Point, if that's where the fuel comes from. It's all well and good to say you are opposed to this, but what are you for?"
At Tuesday's event, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, noting the city has been meeting whomever it can on the issue, said every component of the plan has too many risks, including the potential for spills in the river and a massive explosion and fire at the tanker farm. He agreed with VAPOR's argument that alternatives haven't been explored, such as upgrading the existing Kinder Morgan pipeline.
Noting the city doesn't have the capability to deal with such a huge disaster, and that no proper suppression plan has been presented, Richmond Coun. Bill McNulty told the Optimist the entire process has been a frustrating one for his city.
"We have given our points of view on it but they haven't come back to us to say what they could change, they're just going ahead and doing it. It angers everybody."
McNulty wouldn't comment whether his counterparts in Delta are supportive or vocal enough, saying, "You'd have to ask them."
