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.

John Snyder, chairman of the CoalWatch Comox Valley environmental group, said Friday he was horrified to find, while browsing through the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency website, that the public comment period on the proposed mine was underway.

"This came out of the blue, with no notice and no consultation," said Snyder, who fired off a letter of complaint to federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice.

"There was a lot of confusion. I was getting phone calls and e-mails," he said.

However, environmental assessment agency spokeswoman Annie Roy said that because of changes to legislation earlier this month, the public component had to be announced, even though background documents have not yet been filed.

"We have not yet started the countdown of 30 days," Roy said.

Documents should be posted shortly and the public will then have a chance to comment, she said. "After 30 days, the agency will look at the comments and then we will make sure we cover the issues raised by the public."

CoalWatch wants the agency to put together an independent expert review panel, which would hold public hearings on the project.

According to the agency's website, "a review panel is appointed to review and assess, in an impartial and objective manner, a project with likely adverse environmental effects."

Roy said members of the public can put forward views on the process during the 30-day comment period.

CoalWatch also wants aquifers in the region mapped before provincial and federal environmental assessments get underway.

The Raven Underground Coal Project, proposed by Comox Joint Venture -- led by Compliance Coal Corp. of Vancouver -- would create a 3,100-hectare underground mine near Fanny Bay.

jlavoie@tc.canwest.com

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