For a long time many concerned citizens backed by Local Environmental Groups have been protesting a proposed Gravel Extraction Facility at McNab Creek on the west side of Howe Sound.
This is where there is a small Estuary, formed by the local creek which runs into the Sound.
A large variety of shore life and sub-tidal organisms will be affected. This article which has been forwarded to me gives more background information:
Federal Approval Next Step for Howe Sound Gravel Pit
Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:04pm
184.71.160.114
Federal Approval Next Step for Howe Sound Gravel Pit
Public Comment for Burnco Aggregate Mine Project open til Jan. 26
By Eric Thompson
PHOTO SUBMITTED - Gravel pit The Canadian Environmental Assessment is accepting public input on the proposed Burnco Aggregate Mine Project
GRAVEL PIT The Canadian Environmental Assessment is accepting public input on the proposed Burnco Aggregate Mine Project
The federal environmental assessment of the proposed Burnco Aggregate Mine Project is nearly complete, meaning after years of public debate, the Howe Sound gravel pit is closer to a conclusion, one way or the other.
The public comment period on the comprehensive study report released by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) runs until Jan. 26. Originally slated to go until Jan. 22, the CEAA extended the comment period after a technical issue limited people's ability to provide comments or access the registry website around New Year's.
Burnco's proposal is for the construction of a sand and gravel mine located at McNab Creek, approximately 22 kilometres southwest of Squamish. The mine's production capacity would be up to 1.6 million tonnes of sand and gravel per year, and is expected to be in operation for around 16 years.
The CEAA's comprehensive study concludes — after considering Burnco's mitigation measures and proposed conditions by the BC Environmental Assessment Office — that the project "is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effect."
However, there is disagreement on these findings. Ruth Simons, executive director of the Future of Howe Sound Society, has a number of issues with how the study was conducted, for example, how they measured potential noise impact on residents and wildlife.
"Being a valley, the sound will reverberate off the mountains and travel across the water," said Simons. "We really do not agree with the way the studies were done. The only standards that they based the assessment on were B.C. Oil and Gas regulations and Health Canada. There are no regulations that are relevant to this type of geography, there's only industrial-based or WorkSafe noise regulations. So I think the reason they end up at these conclusions is because there's not relevant regulations in place to protect pristine, quiet areas."
Along with noise, the biggest public concerns have been over water quality, and what potential affects the project could have on the estuary. Howe Sound has only recently recovered from years of pollution from the Britannia Mine, and it still has some locals on edge.
"Now that the acid rock drainage is being neutralized, we've seen a resurgence of the ecosystem of Howe Sound," said Ken Melamed, Green Party president. "People are celebrating the returns of orcas, dolphins, herring are spawning in greater numbers. We're seeing a revival as a result of, not just de-industrialization, but the active remediation that's been going on. People are really excited about that, and those same people are very concerned about re-industrialization, if you will."
In their proposal, Burnco has been trying to design against potential environmental problems, or putting in remediation to compensate some other way, like the construction of 4,034 square metres of in-stream habitat.
"I'm confident that we've put forward a really strong application. It's up to regulators now to decide if it's in the best interest of the province," said Derek Holmes, Land and Resource Manager for Burnco BC.
As of Jan. 15, the CEAA has received 26 comments from the public and Indigenous groups as part of the comment period.
Following this final public comment period, Catherine McKenna, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will consider the report, along with all the comments received and decide whether the project should go ahead as currently constituted.
Though CEAA approval would be a significant step, it wouldn't be the final hurdle for Burnco to break ground in McNab Creek. If granted, the project will then be referred back to Fisheries and Oceans Canada for authorization. The project will also require re-zoning by the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada will then be accountable for ensuring any necessary follow-up and monitoring programs are implemented, so that will play a factor in their review. Simons and Melamed both expressed skepticism over the company following through on proposed clean-up once it gets approval, but Burnco said its reputation is on the line.
"It really comes down to the nature of resource extraction. Our company — which is a Canadian company — has been in business for over 100 years, and it's no mistake that you stay in business by doing what you say you're going to do. Gravel being non-renewable; it needs to be replaced. So this won't be the last project we look to do in the province, and you're really judged by the track record you have on previous projects. I think that your track record stands for itself," said Holmes.
Even still, Simons and the Future of Howe Sound Society plan to keep fighting the project. If necessary, they will send letters to Fisheries and Oceans and engage in the re-zoning applications. Simons is also leading an initiative to get Howe Sound designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve, which would mean a greater focus on sustainable development.
Added Melamed: "Howe Sound is a very special Canadian fjord. We don't have many, especially in such proximity to a major population centre. There's a lot of industrial and development pressures around an area that's so close to Vancouver, so it requires an extra level of diligence in assessing the merits of these various proposals."
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So now the latest development:
The March 5 weekly newsletter for our 1st. Nations band members led with this message:
“Dear Squamish People
“On March 1, the Coast Reporter published a story confirming Squamish Nation’s ‘approval’ of the Burnco Aggregate Mine Project at McNab Creek in the Howe Sound without providing the details of the agreement or process. We sincerely regret not informing you about Squamish Nation Council’s position on the project before it came out in the media. This project has been in negotiations before the new term of council was elected since 2010. We had a short window to make a decision due to timing of the provincial and federal process.”
The message goes on to explain that since the provincial and federal environmental assessments did not meet the Nation’s standards, council demanded to assess the project “from our unique perspective based on our inherent title and rights to the land and water.” Burnco agreed, and the Nation hired “independent environmental specialists” to review the project.
The result was a series of conditions that required Burnco to “enter into a legally binding agreement regarding ways to avoid, mitigate or accommodate impacts on our deer/elk, fish, and our access to practice Aboriginal rights; maintain current habitat for our deer and elk; [and] ensure water levels and quality are not affected and fish habitat is constructed. The Nation also won the right to override specific decision-making processes on the operations of the project.”
Council had voted in favour of the agreement two weeks earlier, the newsletter said, and it lists the seven Councillors who voted in favour, three who were opposed, two who abstained and four who were not present.
No details about possible resource-sharing were mentioned, but the next step will be to invite band members to two information meetings where council will “present to our people the terms and conditions we won on a confidential basis.”
So it turns out that while opponents of the Burnco project were focused on critiquing the flaws in the environmental assessment process, Squamish Nation was following a different track entirely, carrying out its own review with its own experts.
As with Woodfibre LNG, the Nation’s leaders can go back to their members and say their assessment, conditions and enforcement tools are more robust and authentic than Victoria’s or Ottawa’s, and that tangible benefits for the community are part of the deal. And as with Woodfibre LNG, both senior governments will likely green-light the project now that the company has obtained First Nation consent.
Last month in Ottawa, in her first speech since she stepped down as B.C. Liberal leader, former premier Christy Clark told a gathering of conservatives that Indigenous communities “are the single most important piece” in the pipeline equation. “If we want to get our resources out to market, we have some incredibly powerful voices on our side,” she said. “So, let’s fight with them.”
It’s an insight that applies across the board in debates over resource extraction. The side that works with Indigenous communities is increasingly the side that wins.
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