Port Metro Vancouver has submitted the formal application for the much talked about Terminal 2 project proposed for Roberts Bank.
The port submitted what's known as an environmental impact statement to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. That submission will start the ball rolling on a lengthy environmental review involving a panel.
The port is proposing to build a second three-berth container terminal on what would be a new man-made island adjacent to the existing Deltaport container terminal in order to meet forecasted demand.
It's anticipated the environmental assessment will take two or three years to complete.
The independent review panel will be made up of experts appointed by the minister of environment. The panel will hold hearings for interested parties to comment and present concerns regarding the potential effects of the project.
The review panel will then provide recommendations to the minister.
Prior to the selection of the independent review panel members, the federal government will request comment from the public regarding the terms of reference.
Cliff Stewart, the port's vice-president of infrastructure delivery, told the Optimist an executive summary of the environmental impact statement is available online, but the hard copy of the entire document, made up of several binders of studies and other information, is available at local libraries. That document is about 7,000 pages.
Based on the current project schedule, and subject to regulatory approvals, T2 could begin operation by the mid-2020s, according to the port.
As far locating another container terminal at Roberts Bank, Stewart said a lot of work has been done to over the past four years and the analysis determined the site as suitable.
"The conclusion is that the effects of the project with the implementation of the mitigation that's proposed is not expected to significantly affect the environment," he said.
"That's the conclusion of the scientists that we have retained to do that work. That is subject to a review by the independent review panel and it's obviously their conclusion that is the most important."
Against Port Expansion, a local advocacy group, is concerned about the environmental impacts another container terminal will have on the sensitive ecosystem.
For more information about T2, visit www.portmetrovancouver.com.
