Dear Editor,
Re: “Pipeline policies for success,” City Scene, June 1.
In her column, Councillor Alexa Loo infers there won’t be nice community centres or jobs in Richmond if you don’t support supertankers transporting imported jet fuel 15 kilometres up the Fraser River for the first time in history.
A consortium representing the airlines, the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC), is constructing a new marine terminal and jet fuel storage site on the Fraser foreshore just east of the Riverport Entertainment Complex.
The fuel terminal is located too close to residential and commercial areas. It’s a reckless decision with the potential for disaster. An LNG plant is located just on the other side of the river with permits for an LNG terminal and expanded facility.
International and U.S. shipping standards do not permit such facilities near communities and in locations like this where the shipping lanes are narrow.
There is potential for an accident on the scale of Lac-Megantic.
In August, 2011, Environment Canada wrote that the project presents a new and unacceptable risk to the locally, nationally and internationally important populations of fish, migratory birds and species at risk.
It is ironic that the B.C. and federal governments have approved such a risk to the public and the environment for a project that is not needed. Current fuel providers to YVR claim they can provide 100 per cent of the YVR jet fuel requirements.
The Port of Vancouver, a federal body quasi crown corporation, has approved this project and will now profit from leasing port lands to the proponents.
Susan Jones
Delta
