Potential development on both sides of the Roberts Bank causeway isn't part of Port Metro Vancouver's environmental review for Terminal 2. That's because development there isn't reasonably foreseeable for now, according to the port authority. Following a recent presentation by Port Metro Vancouver president and CEO Robin Silvester to the Delta Chamber of Commerce, officials with the port held a briefing for the media to explain the extensive environmental assessment and field work that's underway in advance of submitting an application to build Terminal 2, a threeberth container facility proposed adjacent to the threeberth Deltaport container terminal.
That work will form what's known as an environmental impact statement, which will be submitted to the federal government by the end of the year and will trigger an extensive environmental review of the application.
Noting there hasn't been any major environmental concerns identified so far, biologist Ben Wheeler said the port should have a high degree of confidence its studies are both robust and defensible.
As far as studying the combined impacts of T2 with future development at Roberts Bank, the analysis hasn't gone that far because nothing more is specifically planned at this point.
The port authority recently released its latest draft of an extensive Land Use Plan, which has a graphic depicting the causeway from the shoreline of the Tsawwassen First Nation to the existing terminal as well as the future T2.
Prior to reaching the current terminal, both sides of the causeway are now just water, presently designated as "Port Marine/Port Water." The new designation would change to "Special Study Area."
According to the port, having areas with such a designation means additional study, consultation and planning are required.
The port received scathing criticism a few years ago for separating an application to add a third berth at Deltaport from the future T2 before the environmental review process.
Noting the third berth application, however, did include a cumulative effect analysis, Cliff Stewart, Port Metro Vancouver's vicepresident of infrastructure delivery, said it simply can't be the case for a study area when it comes to the T2 application.
