Residents Urged to Speak Out on Proposed Jet Fuel Pipeline in Richmond
20 January 2012The City of Richmond remains opposed to the proposed new Vancouver Airport Jet Fuel Pipeline, regardless of a change to the pipeline’s route alignment. Richmond City Council is urging Richmond residents to make their opinions known on the proposed pipeline to both the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and the City before February 1, 2012 in time for consideration as part of the official public consultation process.
The Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC), which is owned and operated by a consortium of commercial airlines, has proposed shipping jet fuel in tankers up the South Arm of the Fraser River to a new off-loading and fuel storage terminal to be built in southeast Richmond. Jet fuel would then travel by a newly constructed pipeline to Vancouver International Airport. A BC Environmental Assessment Office review process on that proposal was launched in 2010. In April, 2011, the review was suspended at the request of VAFFC in order to evaluate a possible alternate route along Highway 99 for a section of the fuel delivery pipeline.
The EAO review process resumed on January 4, 2012 after the consortium submitted an alternative alignment to the originally proposed Shell Road railway corridor. The alternative pipeline alignment will follow a corridor that primarily parallels Highway 99. Both of these options are now under consideration by the EAO.
The current Environment Assessment Office process will receive public input up until February 1. To submit your feedback on this proposal directly to the Environmental Assessment Office, you may do so through its online form at www.eao.gov.bc.ca (scroll down to find the jet fuel project, click more information, click feedback on left menu bar); by mail – Attention Rachel Shaw, Project Assessment Director, Environmental Assessment Office, PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC V8W 9V1; or by fax to 250-357-6762. Bear in mind, for your feedback to be part of the official EAO process, you must send it as noted above by February 1, 2012.
Members of the public are also encouraged to visit the City website at www.richmond.ca/jetfuel. In addition to reading the City’s reports on the proposed pipeline and its implications, visitors will be able submit their opinions on the project, The City will ensure that all comments it has received on the pipeline are forwarded to the Environmental Assessment Office by the deadline.
The public is also encouraged to send comments directly to mayorandcouncillors@richmond.ca. The City will forward all feedback it receives to the EAO Office, the proponent and various applicable agencies. The City will continue to receive comments after the EAO deadline.
You can also provide input to Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation at www.vancouverairportfuel.ca,
Richmond Council remains opposed to the pipeline proposal, due to concerns about shipping jet fuel via the sensitive Fraser River estuary, as well as environmental, public safety and economic issues related to having the off-loading and fuel storage facility and pipeline located along the river shoreline in Richmond.
We do not want jet fuel shipped through the Fraser River Estuary. There are far too many risks to the environment and to public safety,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The proposed realignment of the pipeline within Richmond does not address our concerns about the potential risks this project poses to our community and we remain opposed to the entire project.”
Council has passed repeated motions over the past year expressing its opposition to the project. Specifically, Council has opposed any option that includes an off-loading facility on the South Arm of the Fraser River; a new jet fuel line through Richmond farmland and urban areas of Richmond; or an increase of trucks carrying jet fuel on City streets.
In addition to making presentations to the BC Environmental Assessment Office, the City has actively lobbied provincial and other officials, including the Environment Minister, Premier, Prime Minister’s Office, Port Metro Vancouver to express its concern with the pipeline proposal and review process.
It is anticipated that the EAO will submit its final assessment report to the Minister of Environment. in April, 2012. The decision on whether to grant an Environmental Assessment Certificate to the project is expected on or before June 6, 2012.
