Editor:
Re: Make voice heard on noisy ships, letter to the editor, Aug. 29
Several years ago, when it looked as though port construction would be pushed through despite the protests of local residents, Coun. Jeannie Kanakos said that if it did go through, it had better be the "cleanest" port.
Unfortunately for us, it's one of the dirtiest. Although TV commercials trumpet Vancouver Port's "shore to ship" power, which enables ships to power cleanly, Deltaport welcomes noisy freighters spewing bunker oil. These freighters must run their engines the entire time they are in port.
Ship exhaust is the main air pollutant, more noxious even than diesel fuel.
Our air quality has deteriorated dangerously. When parents at English Bluff Elementary, reacting to the dirty film on school walls and sidewalks, insisted on an air quality test, the test results were not made public.
"Within acceptable limits," was the report. Acceptable to whom?
We have electric power running through the middle of our community. We didn't want it, but we have it. Surely some of this power can be routed to the port so that we, like Vancouver, can reduce air pollution.
I ask that Delta council, and especially Kanakos, advocate on our behalf.
