The grassroots group VAPOR Society is once again calling foul on Port Metro Vancouver and a consortium of airlines, alleging the two entities of once more hamstringing the public information process of a jet fuel delivery plan.
As early as the end of the year, the consortium — the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation — is expected to put shovels in the ground to build an 80 million-litre jet fuel storage facility along the south arm of the Fraser River.
As such, permits are required from all levels of government, including the port (PMV), and VAFFC is required to hold a public information session. It advertised this Saturday’s session, at a local hotel, about two weeks ago in the Richmond News.
The mandatory session will outline information on the project’s operational impact, as well as emergency response plans. VAFFC staff will be on hand to answer questions from the public.
The facility must still receive the aforementioned provincial, federal and municipal permits, however the VAFFC has already been granted an Environmental Assessment Certificate from the Province of B.C
PMV acted on behalf of the federal government’s environmental assessment process having stated the project was “not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects.”
In addition to VAPOR, the project has faced opposition from the City of Richmond and the general public.
This year, VAPOR unsuccessfully challenged VAFFC and PMV’s public consultation process that led up to the issuance of the plan’s provincial certificate.
This week, VAPOR director Scott Carswell issued a statement claiming another “deliberate” attempt has been made to quiet public opposition to the project that includes an unloading dock, just north of the Riverport Entertainment Complex, and a 13-kilometre pipeline running up Highway 99 and through Bridgeport to the airport.
VAFFC claims YVR needs the fuel as the airport grows and the new fuel facility will mitigate the need for up to 2,000 new, annual, fuel truck shipments from Washington State come 20 years time.
VAPOR has claimed VAFFC chose the cheapest option, ignoring others and also claims Panamax-size tankers on the river pose environmental risks.
Carswell has asked VAFFC to delay the session until after Labour Day and extend the session so the public can make sense of the 50-plus pages of new information from a project review application form.
VAFFC spokesperson Adrian Pollard said the consortium is fulfilling the requirements set by PMV.
According to John Parker-Jervis, spokesperson at PMV, “the public consultation is specifically about reviewing the project permit application and supporting documentation for the proposed aviation fuel storage facility (tank farm).”
We believe that notification has been completed within reasonable expectations,” added Parker-Jervis.
Carswell and VAPOR took issue with such an explanation.
“Whether or not the legal requirements have been met, it does not meet a moral one; the public deserves a better consultation than this,” stated Carswell.
The public can submit comments by Sept. 19 to VAFFC via email (Info@VancouverAirportFuel.ca).
The session will be held Saturday at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites on No. 6 Road from 2-5 p.m.
