Airport fuel delivery project draws fire

Re: YVR project earns Environmental Assessment Certificate, Dec. 28.

The Vancouver airport Fuel Facility Corporation ( VAFFC) proposal to ship jet fuel into the heart of the Fraser River Estuary is disturbing. The environmental risks are high. The proponent itself admits there will be spills. They just don’t know how large or when.

The fact the project has been granted environmental approval by the B. C. Environmental Assessment Office ( EAO) is of no comfort. The EAO has a long history of rubber stamping environmental proposals. The Vancouver Sun reported July 8, 2011 that “Since 1995, the office has rejected outright only one project.”

The government tried to spin this decision, claiming it was more environmentally friendly than using tanker trucks to transport fuel along highways. This was a bit of “green washing.”

In the original VAFFC proposal there were two pipeline-only options, which would eliminate the use of both trucks and super- tankers. VAFFC dropped these options early on and went for the most environmentally hazardous option: the Panamax tanker and tank farm option.

If you accept that you need more fuel for the airport ( a whole other subject), then a pipeline- only system is by far the best for the environment since it is safer and more reliable. Visit vaporbc.com to learn about continuing efforts to stop this project. BARBARA HUISMAN Richmond

Greg D’Avignon, of the Business Council of B. C., was spot on when he wrote that “… the reality today is … in global terms … .” Sea level rising from global atmospheric warming threatens to inundate Vancouver International Airport on Sea Island.

Greenhouse gas emissions by international aviation are unregulated. The volume of these emissions is growing rapidly. Yet GHG emissions at high altitude have an accelerated impact on atmospheric warming.

New international regulations needed to sharply reduce GHG emissions mean that air traffic cannot continue to grow as it has. It may have to significantly contract.

Consequently, the Vancouver airport fuel delivery project is not needed. At worst, it is selfdefeating.

DEREK WILSON

Port Moody