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.

The insult is that the only way any member of the public can be aware of the process is if they are in continual contact with CEAA website - this is the only place where a notice can be seen!

Of an even greater issue is the fact that any environmental process can be undertaken without the very basic required information. That is a mapping and modelling of the related aquifers. This has never been done.

Where the water and any runoff goes is of paramount importance to the shellfish industry, the salmon streams and rivers and indeed to the entire Baynes sound.

Every local government in the area has asked for this mapping to be done prior to, and forming part of, the environmental process. That both levels of government are proceeding without this key research is irresponsible in the extreme.

The issues include the hundreds of jobs at stake in the shellfish industry, the very water we drink, the safety of our roads as many heavy trucks rumble up and down major tourist routes, and so on and so on. All to produce one of the world's worst contaminants for use elsewhere in the world.

Please Federal and Provincial Governments, recover any sense of responsibility you may once have had.

Campbell Connor
Courtenay

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