Environmental groups are welcoming New Westminster’s plan to intervene in a court challenge concerning a proposed coal port facility in Surrey.
On Sept. 19, Ecojustice submitted an application for a judicial review of the permit approval on behalf of Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC), Communities and Coal and two individual citizens. The application for judicial review alleges that Port Metro Vancouver was biased in its decision making and failed to consider the climate impacts that would be generated by the export and burning of this U.S. coal.
The City of New Westminster subsequently announced that it would submit an application to intervene in a Federal Court challenge filed by Ecojustice against the proposed Fraser Surrey Docks coal transfer facility. The project would see thermal coal mined in the United States travel on open rail cars through White Rock and Surrey, loaded onto open barges at Fraser Surrey Docks, shipped down the Fraser River and across the Strait of Georgia to Texada Island and transferred to ocean-going vessels for shipment to Asia.
“We welcome New West’s intervention in this case. They have consistently pushed for recognition of community concerns about the Fraser Surrey Docks project and they have advocated strongly for meaningful consultation with local governments throughout the review,” Kevin Washbrook, director with VTACC, said in a press release. “New West was also one of the first municipalities to express concerns directly to the port about the risks that this project poses for our climate. We commend their decision to step up on this issue.”
The city is filing intervener status in support of the court challenge initiated by the two environmental groups and two individuals.
“Frontline communities like White Rock, Surrey and New West will bear the brunt of local impacts from this project. They deserve to have their voice fully heard regarding the level of risk to communities from the plan to export U.S. coal, but they’ve been sidelined by the port,” said Paula Williams, director with Communities and Coal. “We are grateful for the support of New West in this challenge to the Port Metro Vancouver permit.”
In August, Port Metro Vancouver approved the permit that would allow Fraser Surrey Docks to build a coal transfer facility.
In a statement issued to The Record this week, Port Metro Vancouver stated it had received a notice of application for a judicial review of the permitting decision for Fraser Surrey Docks’ direct coal transfer facility, and would be reviewing the information and assessing its next steps.
It pointed out that a judicial review is a regular avenue available to any person or party that wishes to challenge a regulatory decision of this nature.
