A three-member panel has been named to review the application to build a second container terminal at Roberts Bank.
The federal government last week announced that Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has appointed Jocelyne Beaudet as the chair of the panel to review the Terminal 2 proposal. Beaudet is joined by Dr. Diana Valiela and Dr. David Levy.
Having experience in various fields related to the environment, the three will conduct the environmental assessment of T2, a proposed three-berth terminal that would provide 2.4 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit containers) of container capacity adjacent to the existing
three-berth Deltaport terminal. The project is part of the Port of Vancouver's Container Capacity Improvement Program, a long-term strategy to meet anticipated growth in container demand to 2030. The port authority last year submitted an environmental impact statement following four years of extensive scientific study and consultation with regulators, aboriginal groups, local government and the public to assess the potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of the terminal's construction and operation.
"We are pleased that the review panel has been appointed and that we are moving into the next phase of environmental review," said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver
Fraser Port Authority.
In total, the port says it undertook assessments in 30 subject areas including topics such as birds, fish, whales, noise, light and human health.
The environmental impact statement includes 77 studies, contributions from more than 100 professional scientists and over 35,000 hours of field work, the port notes.
Following the completion of the review panel's assessment, a report will be submitted to the minister, who will then make a decision whether the project can proceed.
Delta MP Carla Qualtrough encourages Delta residents to provide their feedback when the panel hears submissions, saying they can "put their stamp" on where Delta stands on the important regional issue.
