In the past 30 days nearly 2,000 supporters of the Dogwood Initiative have submitted comments to Port Metro Vancouver rejecting its environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposal to transship U.S. thermal coal through Fraser Surrey Docks.

“The unprecedented number of comments shows the public will not be shut out of the decision-making process and will not be satisfied until a comprehensive and trustworthy assessment is undertaken,” said Laura Benson, Director of Dogwood’s Beyond Coal campaign.

Just last night Richmond and Delta municipal councils called the EIA insufficient and approved motions to oppose the Fraser Surrey Docks project until proper health and environmental assessments are completed. Twelve municipal and regional councils have now taken action opposing or expressing concerns about this proposal.

In collaboration with Voters Taking Action on Climate Change, No More Coal Exports and Communities and Coal, Dogwood has created a transparent repository of public comments at www.realporthearings.org. More than 3000 comments-including critiques from other agencies and health and environmental experts-have been posted to the site.

“We urge the port authority to take the time necessary to fully consider all the comments it has received and do the right thing: go back to the drawing board. We should expect nothing less from a regulator tasked with protecting the public interest.” Benson said. “Hasty approval of this project or refusal to redo the EIA in good faith would be an insult to people from the affected communities, who deserve all the facts about health and environmental impacts.”

A copy of Dogwood Initiative’s comment letter to the port is attached for your reference and will be posted to www.realporthearings.org.