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Write Wild - Raven Coal Mine

Submitted by sven on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 22:53

good_waterfall_bute.jpgIt’s time to take action to stop the proposed Raven Coal Mine project. 

This is our chance to stand up and demand that the government listens to our concerns. It is our chance to say no to a mine proposal that threatens sensitive salmon habitat, local air and water quality and the world famous Fanny Bay shellfish industry.

From the Comox Valley to Port Alberni, local citizens are standing up to this destructive project.  Stand up with the people of these communities and say “No” to Raven Coal. 

Please Write to Environment Ministers Terry Lake and Petter Kent and local MLAs Don McRae and Scott Fraser and let them know why you are concerned about the Raven Coal Mine.

Some points to consider:

  • The mine will destroy tributaries to Cowie Creek that are breeding habitat for cutthroat trout. Toxins released by the project will impact salmon bearing streams like the Tsable River.
  • Heavy metal leakage and acid rock drainage will have a negative impact on the Baynes Sound watershed as a whole, threatening aquatic life and putting the important Baynes Sound aquaculture industry at risk. This industry employees over 600 people and produces 39% of the oysters and 55% of the manila clams in British Columbia. Their jobs could be wiped out by this project.
  • Mining, storing, loading and transporting coal has caused serious issues with coal dust in many communities. Coal dust has been linked to a variety of respiratory illnesses, kidney disease and other health problems. Trucks from the mine would pass by seniors’ centres and hospitals.
  • Water is used continuously to wash the raw coal, and this water and chemicals used in the wash process must be disposed of. All this waste water, some of it containing toxic substances, will be dumped into the environment, and will potentially impact local drinking water, salmon bearing streams and marine health. Compliance Energy needs to undertake complete aquifer mapping before the proceeding.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions from mine construction and operations, including the release of methane gas, must be weighed heavily in this process. Beyond that, the coal from the mine would add over over 80 million tonnes of climate-change-causing greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. Currently, the Environmental Assessment process does not consider the impacts that projects like this will have on climate change. A process that cannot assess this deeply concerning environmental impact is simply unacceptable.
  • A project with this many environmental impacts should never be allowed to go ahead. Clean air, clean water and a healthy natural environment are more important than profiting from selling climate-destabilizing coal.
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