I see many of those polled were unaware of Fraser Surrey Docks plan to ship coal from Wyoming via Texada Island to China. This is not surprising due to the project quietly getting off the ground without the publicity afforded the pipeline proposals.
There can be no doubt if (heaven forbid) the coal dock becomes reality, folks living in this part of the Lower Mainland will become well aware that up to 8 million tonnes of U.S. coal will come across the border annually.
White Rock will have to contend with an extra eight trains a day (four full, four empty) with the resulting diesel fumes and other hazards.
Undoubtedly, there will eventually be an exposed pile of coal at Fraser Surrey Docks. They have applied for an area of 2.47 acres to accommodate it (for emergency situations). Open barges will carry the coal down the Fraser, through the Strait of Georgia to Texada Island for trans-shipment to China.
Here again, with a distinct lack of publicity for those who will be affected, Lafarge have applied to increase their Texada coal dock by twentyfold from 400,000 to 8 million tonnes.
If our neighbours to the south have said ‘no more coal docks,’ why can’t we?
