People outraged over proposed coal expansion project
Posted March 11, 2013 9:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – They fear it’ll damage the environment and be hazardous to their health.
People from White Rock, Delta and Surrey gathered to share their concerns about American trains carrying coal and heading out of Fraser-Surrey Docks for shipment to Asia.
That’s what would happen if the Port of Metro Vancouver goes ahead with its plan to expand export capacity at the docks.
Delta resident Gabriel is outraged by the proposal. “The health concerns, the noise, and the absolute pollution of the environment! I happen to live right along that railroad line and the noise from the trains at this point is really uncomfortable,” she says.
“I’m a fisherman and my main concern is that the Fraser River is going to have another thing to help poison it,” adds John.
Lori lives in Vancouver and won’t experience the immediate effects of the coal dust but is worried about the bigger picture. “It’s climate change, it’s where it’s going; it’s still going to be burnt in China. We’ve got to get away from doing it just because someone’s making a lot of money, that’s not a good reason,” argues Lori.
Others say they feel helpless because the federal government is staying quiet on the issue, as is the port.
“It’s unreasonable for the Port to make these decisions without including citizens in the decision making process…What’s happening is unfair and the Port needs to listen to the public’s concerns about coal exports. Citizens are getting organized to say it’s not good enough, says Kevin Washbrook with Voters Taking Action on Climate Change and the organizer of the community hearing.
If the proposal goes ahead, residents could see at least two coal trains with up to 135 cars running out of the port daily, making Metro Vancouver the largest coal exporter in North America.
