Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist, July 27, 2011

Opponents of Comox coal mine fear project may not get adequate scrutiny

Opponents of plans for a Comox Valley coal mine are worried the proposal will not get adequate scrutiny following possible budget and staff cutbacks at the federal Environmental Assessment Agency and monitoring problems at the provincial level.

Plans for the 3,100-hectare Raven Underground Coal Project, led by Compliance Coal Corp. of Vancouver, are in the early stages of provincial and federal environmental assessments.

This month, provincial Auditor General John Doyle delivered a scathing report on the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office, saying it is failing to adequately monitor major projects after approval.

Then came news that the federal government plans to slash funding to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency by 43 per cent and cut one-third of full-time staff.

"It's certainly not good news," said John Snyder, chairman of CoalWatch Comox Valley. "We first hear that we need stiffer regulations for mines and then we get the auditor general's report - and now it looks as if they're slashing funding on the federal side."

CoalWatch has asked both levels of government to send the project to an independent review panel for public hearings, but the request was turned down.

Snyder said he finds Doyle's report disturbing, particularly as he believes the province is generally supportive of most resource extraction applications.

Annette Tanner, Wilderness Committee mid-Island spokeswoman, is worried about the quality of the environmental assessments and fears the concerns of thousands of local residents will not be given sufficient weight.

Public interest in the project is huge, with Comox Valley residents worried about potential effects on the Baynes Sound shellfish industry, the possibility of toxins leaking into the drinking water supply and plans to transport the coal on double trailers to Port Alberni.

Public meetings in Courtenay, Union Bay and Port Alberni last month were attended by about 1,500 people. More than 2,800 written comments were submitted during the recent comment period.

Most expressed concern. But the flip side involves 350 direct, well-paying jobs that would put about $30 million a year into the local economy, plus more than 400 spinoff jobs, said Compliance Energy CEO John Tapics, who is hoping for a decision by the fall of 2012.

Tapics said all environmental concerns will be explored. In addition to the federal and provincial assessments, a working group of technical experts, scientists, First Nations and local representatives is also looking at the project, Tapics said.

Zoe Younger, acting president of the Mining Association of B.C., said that as the federal cuts have not yet happened, it is not known what will be done to bridge the gap, but both levels of government must make sure they are well-informed before making a decision.

The industry in B.C. also takes on much of the responsibility itself, Younger said.

"We do mining here better than most places on the planet."

However, a concern about any reduction of government resources is that it could take longer for applicants to get a decision, which could discourage investment, she said.

Other major projects in B.C. include the Enbridge pipeline from the Alberta oilsands to Kitimat, and Taseko Mines' resubmitted plan for a gold and copper mine near Williams Lake.

jlavoie@timescolonist.com

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2011

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