Dear Editor:
Does West Vancouver need a messy, risky mine on its doorstep?
Calgary-based Burnco is a family-owned sand and gravel mining company that is applying for a permit to mine and process 20 million tonnes of aggregate at the McNab Creek estuary in the heart of Howe Sound.
To be barged 35 kilometres into Vancouver, the mine’s total production, over 20 years, will supply less than one year’s aggregate needs of the Lower Mainland, according to the environmental impact statement, and Burnco admits that it has other sources, and will use them.
Mined out, Burnco then will abandon the site, leaving a polluted, water-filled quarry. Burnco calls this a recreational lake.
Howe Sound is beautiful, environmentally sensitive, and worthy of protection. An unnecessary aggregate mine and processing plant at its heart is pointless.
Burnco’s application for a permit to scoop, dredge and crush in Howe Sound fails to provide reasonable assurance that its operation will not cause serious environmental, heritage, health, social and economic damage.
Burnco suggests that the history of more than 100 years of industrial abuse to the land, water, air and wildlife by others in Howe Sound is an important historical precedent and therefore is justification for further industrial activity. This is a specious argument, of course, and it is very disturbing that the applicant feels justified in advancing it.
Burnco refers to historical precedent in its forced, second choice of a riskier shipping route through narrow Thornborough Channel, past the Elphinstone youth camp and cutting across the Langdale ferry routes. Its first choice for a shipping route, safer and shorter, but in view from the Sea to Sky highway, attracted strong public opposition.
Burnco has not addressed adequately some very important environmental effects: for example, how will it avoid, negate or mitigate the risk from sediment from the operation to the rare glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound? The proposed mine is the biggest threat.
Burnco has been unconvincing in its attempts to address the legitimate concerns of the provincial and government and the public. Its claim that the 14 or so full-time equivalent jobs at the mine site will provide significant economic benefits is ridiculous. But the threat it poses to the environment, tourism and recreation is not.
Of course this project should not be approved at any level, particularly before a holistic regional plan for the entire Howe Sound area has been put in place that takes into account Howe Sound’s industrial, commercial, residential and recreational value, both existing and potential.
Donald Townson
West Vancouver
Editor’s note: The 45-day public comment period of this project’s environmental assessment review has been extended and will now end at midnight on Oct. 3. To read a summary of the project’s environmental impact statement and/or submit comments by online form, visit eao.gov.bc.ca/
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