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A lose-lose proposition

Letters

Editor:

Re: “Burnco project is a catch-22,” West Howe Sounder, Nov. 17.

The proposed Burnco project is a lose-lose proposition for Howe Sound and our community, with or without rezoning.

As a representative of the McNab Strata residential community, our paramount concerns have always been our community’s health and safety, since we are just on the other side of the McNab Creek, less than 500 metres from the project.

We disagree with the BCEAO’s opinion that the proposed Burnco project will not pose significant adverse effects to our community. We have engaged with Burnco and participated in this environmental assessment process since the beginning. We have been cooperative by taking time on numerous occasions to meet, the latest meeting in September with EAO staff when they were supposed to explain to us how the project will not significantly affect our community. After all this time, our community is left feeling our concerns are not being properly addressed and we have no trust.

Dust. The report concludes there is a “moderate likelihood” dust will have a visual impact on our community but no health impacts. We have no trust in these conclusions, since the mitigation plans are unknown, and who is monitoring once in operation?

Noise. Our community values the peace and quiet of the area. The properties are unique and have very rural characteristics away from the city. With or without rock crushing, our enjoyment and property values will be impacted negatively by the constant digging, conveying, sorting and barge loading activities less than 500 metres away. The EAO admits there will be a likelihood of property value loss, but they don’t consider this loss when looking at the economic values of the project. Despite reports and data stating a negative impact, the EAO is “satisfied” it will not have significant adverse effects on values. This makes no sense.

Climate change impacts. Significant alterations to the natural water flows are still a concern for the safety of our community. Constructing berms and barriers on one side of the creek could pose a greater risk of erosion and flooding on the other.

Sustainable development. This proposed project is not sustainable, as it will produce very few jobs during the life of the mine. Once the gravel is removed from below the water table, the land is lost forever and cannot support sustainable development.

False facts about our community. The BCEAO has relied on Burnco’s assumptions about our community, which makes us wonder if the BCEAO has ever read any of our communities’ comments, considering all of the misinformation they are summarizing

It is apparent to us the process is flawed, and not entirely neutral in assessing all the potential negative effects this project poses for the Howe Sound communities and of the overall health of the environment. This summer we witnessed the orcas feeding on the salmon at the mouth of McNab Creek estuary. Not just for our community but for the recovery of Howe Sound, this is not the place for a large-scale gravel mine. The public comment period closes Nov. 27.

Troy Speedie, McNab Creek