John Snyder, Comox Valley Record, August 26, 2010

Dear editor,

Recently CoalWatch Comox Valley Society filed our request with federal Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice to refer the environmental assessment of the Raven Underground Coal Mine Project to a joint federal/provincial independent expert review panel for full public hearings.

There is a stark difference between what is currently slated for a review process (a comprehensive review) and what CoalWatch is requesting (a joint review panel with public hearings).

The biggest difference between the two reviews is: the comprehensive review calls for public meetings to be held; and the joint review panel calls for public hearings as part of the process.

John Tapics, CEO of Compliance Energy, recently stated that the current comprehensive review process is “adequate.” CoalWatch couldn’t disagree more.

The following paragraphs are from the CoalWatch letter to the minister of the environment, which was filed Aug. 17.

In light of the above evidence of potential significant adverse environmental impacts and of overwhelming public concern, we urge you to refer the proposed RUC Project to a joint federal/provincial Independent Expert Review Panel for a full public hearing.

The Panel should be mandated to deal with the entire spectrum of potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, and to provide the public with the highest level of public participation available under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, including the right to present evidence and to cross-examine the experts of the proponent and government.

The potential for this project to transform the Comox Valley demands a full and open public process. Not only does the proposed coal mine pose potentially significant adverse environmental effects, the concerns expressed by the Comox Valley and Island communities demand that this project be given full scrutiny in open public hearings. This is necessary not only to fully assess the environmental impact of the proposed RUC Project, but also to restore the public trust.

The choice is clear, the residents of Port Alberni, the Comox Valley, and indeed the whole of Vancouver Island deserve nothing less than a joint federal/provincial review panel with full public hearings.

John Snyder

Editor’s note: John Snyder is president of the CoalWatch Comox Valley Society.

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