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.

The President, John Tapics has admitted his proposed Raven coal operation, located above Fanny Bay in Baynes Sound, will kill a fish bearing river, the habitat for Chum & Coho salmon, rainbow trout/steelhead, blue-listed coastal and cutthroat trout and other listed species: in fact, the coal operation will affect four watersheds as well as aquifers that provide drinking water for residents in the area.

The Shellfish Industry in Baynes Sound has been around for 100 years, producing 39% of the oysters and 55% of the manila clams in British Columbia; it is comprised of approximately 50 companies including Oyster leases and employs 500-700 people. This industry is at risk of being greatly altered or completely destroyed due to the proponents coal operation releasing toxins into the water. Shellfish are like the Canary in a coal mine -- shellfish absorb any and all toxins and are affected long before adverse reactions are detectable in other species.

Here in Port Alberni, the company proposes to transport, then convey coal onto huge Panamax ocean liners. The adverse affects transporting coal dust will have in our community and on our salmon and other marine life, including water fowl in the Ducks Unlimited Sanctuary, downwind from the operation is of great concern. Most disconcerting is the 'ocean outfall' caused from coal dust washed off of the 100+ trucks per day after they unload coal off the trucks at the receiving facility, located at the Port Authority.

The Fisheries Act is a federal law that deals with the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat, including fish, shellfish, crustaceans and marine mammals, as well as pollution prevention. As I have, please write a letter to the Provincial and Federal Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, the governing body that could potentially permit this company to do what they have planned; it is within their jurisdiction to uphold federal law that prevents anyone from causing harmful alteration, disruption, destruction or modification of fish habitat.

Stacey Gaiga
Ocean Canal Clubhouse Inc.
Port Alberni

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