(Port Alberni) “ Fisheries not coal “is the theme of a public meeting at Char’s Landing on Argyle Street Thursday February 21, from 7 to 9 pm. Roberta Stevenson, executive director of the BC Shellfish Growers is the keynote speaker.
“The negative effects on food production especially fisheries from coal producing regions has to be a major focus of discussion and the Shellfish Growers have done the research,” says Gary Swann, Alberni Environmental Coalition director. In the Baynes Sound shellfish industry alone 600 jobs are at risk with the Raven Coal project in an industry that is worth $30 million annually.
The Raven coal project is expected to proceed to the final stages of the environmental review in the upcoming weeks.
For more information contact:
Norine Messer
Participant Coordinator
Alberni Environmental Coalition
(250) 735-4111
Port Alberni Mayor and Council
4850 Argyle Street
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 1V8
Attached below is an open letter to Port Alberni Mayor and Council
January 30, 2013
Dear Port Alberni Mayor and Council,
The Raven Underground Coal Project is expected to enter the final stages of the Environmental Review in the coming weeks.
Ken Watson, the city representative, on the Working Group of the Environmental Review will receive the 8,000 to 10,000 pages of studies undertaken by scientists hired by Compliance Energy prior to these studies being released to the public. As representatives they are expected to critique these studies with reference to the application information requirements (AIR) finalized last June and the concerns voiced by the community. How will your representative tackle the review of the 8 – 10,000 pages to adequately assess the documents? The Alberni Environmental Coalition hired three experts in the fields of air quality, socio-economic impacts and marine environment who have been closely following the process and will be reviewing what the Compliance advisors are submitting. Public input is extremely important because the final approval does not reside with scientists but with the final decision taken by the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Environment.
Concerns regarding this project continue to grow. As you know the BC Shellfish Growers Association has, after careful review and deliberation along with meetings with all levels of government, taken a position in opposition to the Raven project. In the last two months the Town of Comox and the Comox Valley Regional District have passed motions raising serious concerns about the environmental review process and asking that it be halted until those concerns are addressed. As well a variety of organizations including the BC Lung Association amongst others are concerned about potential health effects of increased coal exports out of the Port of Vancouver. Our port faces the similar concerns.
Just as it has been widely acknowledged by many including the current provincial government that there is no “social license” for the Enbridge pipeline project, there is no “social license” for the Raven Project. The list of organizations and individuals challenging this project continues to grow since the survey undertaken in Port Alberni over a year ago. The United Church Presbytery of Comox-Nanaimo at their meeting October 27, 2012 in Port Alberni took a position of opposition to the Raven project.
Attached are documents ( City of Comox, CVRD, open letter BC Lung Association and others, Port Alberni Survey report) in support of the above statements. We would be pleased to provide additional documentation if desired.
Sincerely,
Gary Swann
Director/ Treasurer
Alberni Environmental Coalition
PO Box 1087
V9Y-7L9
Port Alberni, BC
(250) 723-7692
