Wrong Place - Wrong Time - Wrong Proposal. VAPOR presentation to Delta Council November 5, 2012

Transcription

1 The VAFFC Proposal to Ship Jet Fuel into the Fraser River Estuary, Build a Tank Farm on the River and Pipe it Across Richmond to the Vancouver International Airport Wrong Place - Wrong Time - Wrong Proposal VAPOR presentation to Delta Council November 5, 2012

2 What is VAPOR? A group of concerned citizens from the Lower Fraser River area opposed to marine shipping of jet fuel into the Fraser Estuary because of public safety and environmental risks. Promote the safer alternative - a pipeline to deliver fuel from the ARCO and Chevron sources directly to YVR.

3 History of the VAFFC Proposal VAFFC proposal to barge fuel into the Fraser River in 1989 rejected by Federal Environmental Assessment Panel In 1989 Feds determined it was too great a threat to the river and its fish and wildlife resources. Federal Environmental Assessment and Review Process 33 Canada 2008 VAFFC voluntarily registers new proposal with BC EAO for review and certification VAFFC EA Certificate Application

4 The 2010 VAFFC Proposal A new proposal submitted to BC EAO in 2008 to ship toxic and flammable jet fuel in barges / Panamax tankers into the Fraser River over the Massey Tunnel build a terminal and 80M litre tank farm upstream of the RiverPort residential and recreational complex delivery to YVR via pipeline across Richmond. VAFFC dock and tank farm proposal in Richmond upstream of the Massey Tunnel

5 Unacceptable Risk to the Estuary Jet fuel is full of additives Very toxic to fish and invertebrate life Toxic and a killer of waterfowl Very flammable Spill and Odor issue

6 Spills a certainty. VAFFC predicts the probability of a <50 barrel spill each 6 years and a <1000 barrel spill each 30 years. VAFFC insists on no impacts Spills will impact the river, human safety, property, recreation, habitat, the fishery and wildlife. VAFFC simply suggests dispersal and evaporation as the solution.

7 Risk to Delta One-half of the estuary is in Delta Globally recognized wetlands for fish and wildlife islands complex MOE Wildlife Management area, Alaksan Refuge and newly declared Ramsar Site. Ladner Harbour and the fishery Recreational losses

8 Flawed Environmental Review Process Flawed BC EAO process (BC AG, UofV criticisms) Terrible public consultations / suspensions /180 day review / over 600 days old. PMV conflict of interest will benefit from any approval Excessive pressure on compromised river and estuary.

9 Strong Public Opposition City of Richmond / Vancouver / UBCM John Cummings ex MP Vicki Huntington MLA Delta Linda Reid MLA Richmond Many ENGO groups BBCS, FRC, WBPS First Nations petition signatures

10 Richmond Opposition to tankers and terminal/pipeline October 2012 proposal

11 Revised Options the suspension! Where are we in Nov. 2012? Public left out of VAFFC / PMV studies No BC EAO/PMV consultations. Any in river option is still unacceptable (rejected in the past). Blind refusal to seriously look at other options Direct pipelines from ARCO and Chevron refineries to YVR is safest environmental and public safety option available.

12 Request Delta Council Resolution and Action It is respectfully but urgently requested that Delta Council formulate and pass a resolution opposing the transport and handling of toxic and flammable jet fuel anywhere in the Fraser Estuary and urge a more environmentally responsible option of sending fuel to YVR directly over land from their refinery sources Delta Council must show greater resolve to oppose a tanker terminal proposal that a will impact our estuary, quality of life, property and public safety.

13 Thank you VAPOR Carol Day chair Otto Langer co-chair DIRECTORS Scott Carswell Barbara Huisman James Ronback Betty Swedberg Judy Williams The Fraser River recreational salmon fishery.