Port Expansion at Roberts Bank, Delta, BC

PETITION
TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED

With respect to further port development at Roberts Bank, Delta, British Columbia

We, the undersigned Citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following:

THAT PLANS FOR A SECOND CONTAINER TERMINAL WITH THREE NEW BERTHS AT DELTAPORT, ROBERTS BANK, BRITISH COLUMBIA POSE UNACCEPTABLE THREATS TO THE ROBERTS BANK ECOSYSTEM THAT CANNOT BE MITIGATED. The Harmonized Environmental Assessment of the Deltaport Third Berth Expansion faced overwhelming public opposition from the adjacent communities and environmental groups. Government scientists, independent scientists and the public raised concerns that have not been addressed including: cumulative effects of past and imminent projects; lack of credible science; lack of accountability for environmental effects; lack of process transparency; and failure to address the impacts of noise, lighting, air pollution and traffic on the surrounding communities and wildlife. The Comprehensive Study Report failed to recognize the national and international significance of Roberts Bank, failed to address scientific evidence proving significant adverse environmental effects, failed to prove credible mitigation, and presented a flawed analysis of project justification. The Environmental Assessment failed to address transboundary agreements, protection of resident orcas, ecological integrity issues for National Parks; transference of 1154 hectares of crown provincial waterlot to management by the Vancouver Port Authority, a cancelled Order-In-Council and government initiatives that recognize the ecological sensitivity and importance of the Roberts Bank ecosystem.

THAT, IN 1979 port expansion on Roberts Bank was subject to a Federal Environmental Assessment Review (FEAR) Panel that concluded expansion posed "unacceptable threats" to the Roberts Bank ecosystem. The FEAR Panel found that "The extent and ecological significance of the Fraser River estuary, particularly its use by fish and wildlife, make it Unique in North America".

THAT IN spite of the 1979 FEAR Panel, the port expanded beyond the Panel's recommendations.

THAT the recently approved Deltaport Third Berth Project is the first part of a proposal which will more than TRIPLE the already over-expanded port on Roberts Bank. The piecemeal presentation of Deltaport Third Berth separate from the South Fraser Perimeter Road (for container trucks), Terminal 2 (a new 3-berth container terminal) and related Gateway Projects contravenes Section 16.1 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) which requires inclusion of past and future projects in the cumulative effects assessment.

THEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS REQUEST THAT PARLIAMENT DISALLOW ANY FURTHER EXPANSION OF DELTAPORT, IN DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA AS FURTHER EXPANSION IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT

ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAT CANNOT BE MITIGATED.