Editor:
Re: Richmond council OK with jet fuel, just not LNG, letter to the editor, July 16
The letter claims that Richmond council opposes expansion of FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG plant yet allows a jet fuel terminal across the river in Richmond.
According to Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, nobody on Richmond council wants the jet fuel pipeline and terminal but he was willing to support it because of legal advice that a rejection would be legally over-ridden.
The issue was controversial with half the councillors voting in opposition. Brodie cast the decisive vote in favour.
Both the jet fuel and the Tilbury LNG expansion present danger to the public and threaten to irreparably pollute the lower Fraser. FortisBC wants to expand LNG production 196 times its original production from 60 tonnes to 11,760 tonnes per day for export.
The B.C. and federal governments plan to allow LNG vessels on the Fraser in violation of international and U.S. safety standards which state LNG operations should not be located near human populations or along narrow inland waterways in conflict with other uses – tugs, barges, container ships, fishing boats and recreational boats.
LNG accidents can cause catastrophic fires and/or explosions. An escape of LNG vapour could encompass all of Steveston and much of Ladner with disastrous results, if ignited.
Susan Jones
