Click here to listen to the conversation

John Tapics, Alberni Valley Times, August 13, 2010

Stacey Gaiga's August 9 opinion letter, "Coal dust washed off trucks, largest concern," contains inaccurate information.

Click here to download submission.

Gord Kurbis, A-Channel News, August 10, 2010

Click here to play video

Phillip Woolgar, Alberni Valley Times, August 10, 2010

Officials with CoalWatch Comox Valley slammed the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Monday, over what they called a lack of information released about a massive mining project.

Stacey Gaiga, Alberni Valley Times, August 09, 2010

Many people in several Vancouver Island communities, including Roberta Stevenson, Executive Director of the B.C. Shellfish Growers Association, are very concerned about Compliance's Raven Underground Coal Project proposal to operate a coal mine that will damage and destroy marine life and put the lives of Vancouver Island residents at risk.

News Release, CoalWatch Comox Valley, August 8, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“We need aquifer mapping and a full expert panel review”, says CoalWatch

The countdown is on for people to express concerns in the opening round of public comment into the proposal for a massive coal mine in Comox Valley.

Citizens have until Sept. 20 to formally comment during this first comment period on the proposed mine as part of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s review of the project.

On August 6, the CEAA posted it's background document on its Registry website, and has asked the public to make comments. Please note that the deadline for written comments is September 20, 2010.

CoalWatch will be reviewing this background document and issuing a press release and statement in the next few days. Please log onto our website, www.coalwatch.ca, or subscribe to coalalert, our email announcements list, for further details.

CoalWatch will have more details and information to assist the public in submitting comments during this public comment period. In the meantime, we have some suggestions on our Environmental Assessments page.

Note that all documents related to the federal environmental assessment are listed at the bottom of the main page for the Raven project, on the CEAA Registry.
http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=55529

Thank-you.
John Snyder, Chair
CoalWatch Comox Valley

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Aug 6, 2010

CEAA posted three documents to its registry for the Raven Underground Coal Mine Project, ref 10-03-55529.

• Request for Public Input into the Environmental Assessment
• News Release: Raven Underground Coal Mine Project Public Comments Invited
• Background Information for the Initial Federal Public Comment Periond [sic]

The "request for public input" and the "news release" are identical. The important document is the backgrounder.

Comments must be received by September 20, 2010

Send comments to:
Raven Underground Coal Mine Project
Andrew Rollo, Project Manager
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
805 -1550 Alberni Street
Vancouver BC V6G 1A5
Tel.: 604-666-2431 / Fax: 604-666-3493
Email: Raven@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Background Information for the Initial Federal Public Comment Period

Philip Round, Comox Valley Echo, August 06, 2010

Federal environment minister Jim Prentice has reassured Courtenay councillors the potential environmental impact of the proposed Raven coal mine near Buckley Bay will be considered fully before any decision is made on the project.

Project Watershed to Hon. Jim Prentice, July 22, 2010

The Comox Valley's Project Watershed has sent a letter to Jim Prentice, Canada's Environment Minister asking him to authorize an independent panel review for the federal environmental assessment of the proposed Raven Underground Coal Project.

Roberta Stevenson, Executive Director, BC Shellfish Growers Association, On the Island, August 4, 2010

"The shellfish growers really can't see anything but negative effects of a coal mine in the region, fronting their shellfish farming beds"

"We employ about 500 people in the region and we produce about $7 million worth of oysters and shellfish out of Baynes Sound"

"If they're not going to turn it down, then the least we want is a very large financial bond in place to cover farmers who might lose their livelihood because of it"

Listen to the interview here.

BY JUDITH LAVOIE, Times Colonist, August 1, 2010

Opponents of a proposed coal mine in the Comox Valley are relieved by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency assurances that the clock on the public comment period has not started ticking without anyone knowing.

By Lissa Alexander, Parksville Qualicum Beach News, July 29, 2010

Environmental groups and residents, including the mayor of Qualicum Beach, are upset that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has “quietly” begun a public comment period for the proposed Raven Underground Coal Mine Project.

COMMENT: The Prosperity project will use considerably more electricity than the Raven mine, and projected load at the Raven project has not been disclosed by the proponents. However, an estimate of energy demand is in the range of 6-10 megawatts.

Campbell Connor, Comox Valley Echo, July 30, 2010

The Federal Government delivered a huge insult to the public of Central Vancouver Island.

They have announced the first steps in the environmental review process for the proposed Raven Coal Mine at Fanny Bay.

Stacey Gaiga, Alberni Valley Times, July 29, 2010

Port Alberni is an affordable, centrally located city with easy access to great spots all over the Island. We have been struggling to transition from resource based industries to diversify our economy for future stability and fortunately, we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world; attracting retirees, young entrepreneurs, new families and commercial investment. We endure a stinky mill and get rated as one of the worst cities in Canada almost yearly yet our tight knit community endures.

One way to guarantee we don't survive though, is to add coal to this equation.

Florentia Scott, Alberni Valley Times, July 28, 2010

Chris Alemany's "no rail/no coal" petition got lots of sympathetic comment at Monday night's city council meeting, but not much concrete support.

Annie Roy, CEAA, On the Island, July 27, 2010

Annie Roy explains that the comment period which the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) opened on July 19, is still awaiting a "background" document which will describe the Raven Underground Coal Project and the comprehensive study environmental review process which CEAA has started.

When the background document is posted on CEAA's registry for the Raven project, the public will then have 30 days to submit comments on the project.

When asked about the harmonized federal-provincial environmental assessment, Ms Roy referred the program's host, Gregor Craigie, to the BC Environmental Assessment Office.

Asked about the possibility of a panel review instead of a comprehensive study, Ms Roy had no comment, but said that people could comment on that question during the comment period. She reiterated that a review panel will be authorized by the federal Minister of Environment only if there is risk of significant environmental impact and/or there is significant public concern.

Download the interview here.

For more info:

On the Island interview with John Snyder of CoalWatch

CEAA opens Public Comment Period on Raven Project

CEAA assumes responsibility for Comprehensive Studies

CoalWatch letter to Minister Prentice regarding Environmental Assessment

Annie Roy, CEAA, On the Island, July 27, 2010

Annie Roy explains that the comment period which the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) opened on July 19, is still awaiting a "background" document which will describe the Raven Underground Coal Project and the comprehensive study environmental review process which CEAA has started.

When the background document is posted on CEAA's registry for the Raven project, the public will then have 30 days to submit comments on the project.

When asked about the harmonized federal-provincial environmental assessment, Ms Roy referred the program's host, Gregor Craigie, to the BC Environmental Assessment Office.

Asked about the possibility of a panel review instead of a comprehensive study, Ms Roy had no comment, but said that people could comment on that question during the comment period. She reiterated that a review panel will be authorized by the federal Minister of Environment only if there is risk of significant environmental impact and/or there is significant public concern.

Download the interview here.

For more info:

On the Island interview with John Snyder of CoalWatch

CEAA opens Public Comment Period on Raven Project

CEAA assumes responsibility for Comprehensive Studies

CoalWatch letter to Minister Prentice regarding Environmental Assessment

Brenda Bouw, Mining Reporter, Globe and Mail, July 26, 2010

Vancouver — Last spring, the world's bigger miners forced Asian customers to make a dramatic switch, abandoning a 40-year tradition of annual price contracts in favour of three-month agreements.‬‪ ‬‪

John Snyder, On the Island, July 26, 2010

John Snyder talks about CEAA's recent announcement of a public comment period for the federal environmental assessment of proposed Raven coal mine.

Download the interview here.

For more info:

CEAA opens Public Comment Period on Raven Project

CEAA assumes responsibility for Comprehensive Studies

CoalWatch letter to Minister Prentice regarding Environmental Assessment

July 24, 2010

Urgent message re:
Federal Environmental Assessment on Raven Underground Coal Mine Project CEAR# 10-03-55529

I write on behalf of CoalWatch Comox Valley, a citizens group that formed last November in response to the proposal for a large coal mine in the heart of the Baynes Sound watershed on Vancouver Island.

We were surprised and concerned to learn that the Canadian environmental assessment agency has commenced with a public comment period for the proposed mine. This was quietly posted to the agency’s website July 19, with no public announcement or consultation with concerned parties.

CoalWatch Comox Valley has asked to meet with the two MPs whose constituents and ridings are most directly affected by the Raven coal mine project.

The body of the letters to the MPs read as follows:

On July 19, 2010 the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) announced that the first Public Comment Period for the Raven Coal Mine Project had commenced. (Link)