Alternatives may exist, but port plan is set

Raven Coal Mine

The Raven Underground Coal Project would be a 1.8 million tonne per year new coal mine in the Tsable River and Cowie Creek watersheds on Vancouver Island. Click here for more info.

John Snyder, Alberni Valley Times, January 11, 2012

Re: "Surveys and polls often ask the wrong questions," (Alberni Valley Times, Monday, Jan. 9)

In Mr. Cole's recent letter, he speculates on an alternative route for the transport of coal as part of the proposed Raven Coal Mine Project, and also mentions Polly's Point (Coulson's mill site) as an alternative coal port location.

Although these alternatives are interesting, within the framework of the environmental assessment for the proposed Raven Project, they aren't in the current project description and therefore won't be considered.

The current project description calls for the coal to be transported by truck via Highways 19 and 4 to the proposed coal port location in Port Alberni. Certainly the project description can be changed in the future, but at a considerable cost.

This is summed up in a letter dated April 19, 2010 from John Tapics (Compliance Coal Corporation) to Rachel Shaw (BCEAO) regarding the selection of Port Alberni as the designated port facility. In part it says, "This does not preclude Compliance from consideration of other port options or methods of transportation in the future. We understand the implications related to the provincial and federal environmental assessment acts and permitting if a different port option or method of transportation is ultimately chosen."

When giving consideration to the Raven Coal Mine Project, it's best to deal with the current project description and not hypothetical speculation.

John Snyder
Fanny Bay

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