The consortium of airlines behind the bid to run a 15-kilometre jet fuel pipeline through Richmond is now looking at alternatives to the controversial plan.
The Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC) has written to the City of Richmond indicating that it will conduct in-depth studies into three other options:
*An upgrade of the existing pipeline from Burnaby;
*An offshore Sea Island terminal;
*Fraser River north arm barge facility.
The current plan is to barge the fuel up the south arm of the Fraser to a new off-loading terminal in south-east Richmond and then pipe it via the city to YVR.
That application was being looked at by the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) until its review was suspended on request of the VAFFC, so it could consider running the pipe up Highway 99, as opposed to through residential Richmond.
The VAFFC has now hired two marine and environmental engineering consultants to conduct an analysis of what its now calling project alternatives.
The consortium has told the BCEAO that it expects to file reports on the alternatives by the end of November.
City council which has no say on the matter a residential pressure group called VAPOR and local MLA Linda Reid have all stated publicly and continually over the last year that they are opposed to the original plan, due to safety fears and have urged VAFFC to consider other options.
