Environmentalists fear a proposed coal mine in the Comox Valley could be the first of more to come on Vancouver Island if it's allowed to proceed.
While shareholders and executives of the Compliance Coal Corporation discussed preliminary plans for the Raven Underground Coal Project -- the first one proposed for the region in 25 years -- at their annual general meeting in Vancouver today, protesters (including one in a giant lizard costume) chanted on the sidewalks outside 'Say no to dirty coal!'
The protest followed an announcement by Environment Minister Jim Prentice today stating that Canada would move away from dirty coal, and begin phasing out coal-fired electricity. The move drew mixed reactions from environmental groups.
Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee called it "a lot of hypocrisy."
"We're applauding ourselves for lowering our national emissions while shipping it off to other countries."
And it won't affect projects like the Raven Underground Coal Project, according to Compliance CEO John Tafeks, because it's a steel-making coal mine as opposed to coal-burning mine.
"There isn't any other way to make steel in the world at this point," Tafeks told The Tyee. "About 90 per cent of steel is manufactured from steel-making coal or metallurgical coal. Anything made from steel, be it pot in kitchen to a wind turbine or hybrid car all have steel and all effectively come from steel-making coal."
"He doesn't see any problem with coal," said Robin Mumblo, a concerned resident of Fanny Bay in the Comox Valley who attended the protest. "He's the coal baron with a clear conscience."
The Wilderness Committee warns of the inherent damage that all coal projects cause in the form of run-off from the process of cleaning waste rock and the strain on local watersheds which includes vital aquifers. Run-off of heavy metals such as arsenic and selenium pose a threat to one of BC's premium shellfish industries, Donaldson warns.
The Wilderness Committee press release states that "Major concerns have been raised by local residents from Port Alberni to Denman Island including: health impacts from coal dust, increased traffic from the 6-10 truckloads of coal per hour driving through Cathedral Grove."
Josh Massey is completing a practicum at The Tyee.
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DPL
1 year ago
I just finished reading a
I just finished reading a book called.Boss Whistle, The coal miners of Vancouver Island, written in 1982. It seems a number of mines had lots of coal left as the demand for the product went way down. Some mines went under the ocean. One in Nanaimo went almost over to Gabriola Island. A number of the mines were flooded. Are we going to go back to pumping them out so some companies can make a bundle shipping the stuff to China? If one opens, more will follow as long as we have money grubbing companies and governments that allow them to do their thing
Grania
1 year ago
Pollution
This company plans to transport the coal in three trucks per hour on a highway not suitable for that kind of use. It is particularly unsuitable for the highway into Port Alberni where the coal will be loaded onto ships. In addition, the pollution from the coal dust will be horrific. We on the Westcoast do NOT want this mine!
Sask Resident
1 year ago
Coal and Coal dust
Coal trucks are all covered (like those carrying zinc, nickle and grain) so dust along the highway will be minimal. However, Port Alberni is a good hike. However, coal is shipped from Elkford, BC (near Fernie) to Exshaw, Alberta (near Canmore) for heating the klinkers on 2ndary hwys like #22 with few problems.
Met Coal is needed to supply the carbon in carbon steel, so the carbon is locked up away from the environment. Coal, when exposed to oxygen and water will break down, producing methane, a much more effective GHG.
The Island needs jobs as the forestry industry shuts down, so why are some people so against people having jobs and paying taxes? As for the fishery, one of the best sports fishery in BC is the Elk River, downstream of a whole series of coal mines. Forestry, pulp and urban centers are the real killers of fish and shell fish.