Dear editor,
Re: Comox Valley Record June 3 editorial “Road for coal mine project will be long and winding.”
I would like to take issue with the premise in the recent CV Record editorial, that the recent rejection of the Raven Coal Mine Application is a validation of the process that has been questioned or maligned by opponents of the proposed mine overlooking Baynes Sound.
To date, the current review process has failed to incorporate the requests made in motions by all of our local governments, that called for an independent review panel with public hearings.
This rejection of the Raven Coal Mine Application should in no way validate a review process that does not reflect the requests of our local governments.
I don’t see the application rejection as a validation of a rigorous review process, but rather view the rejection as an indictment of Compliance Coal Corporation’s competency and credibility going forward.
Considering the fact that Compliance played a pivotal role in formulating the Application Information Requirements (AIR), they had full knowledge of what information was required, and still submitted an application which the EAO considered not to have adequately addressed major information requirements.
The rejection of the Raven mine application highlights why Compliance has been unable to obtain “social licence” from the residents of the Comox Valley and Port Alberni. For many of us, Compliance’s assurances and predictions on the Raven Coal Mine Project are neither credible or attainable.
John Snyder,
Fanny Bay
