Chants of 'No More Coal” filled a packed Courtenay room for the first of three public comment meetings scheduled for the Raven Coal Mine environmental assessment.

Over five hundred people crammed into the Filberg Centre for the six hour meeting, to ask questions and express their concerns with the proposed mine.

“Throughout the night it was clear that people are frustrated with the process and deeply worried about the future of our communities,” said John Snyder, President of CoalWatch Comox Valley. “The government cookie cutter response of 'it will be assessed' doesn't cut it when you are talking about peoples drinking water, their livelihood and their health.”

About 70 citizens registered to asked questions on broad range of topics including climate change, water quality, impact on tourism, liability and reclamation to the shellfish industry. Not one person spoke in favour of the project, and many people brought serious concerns about the feasibility of the project.

“It is clear that Compliance's unproven track record managing these types of project calls their ability protect the environment into question,”said Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee. “Compliance Energy's CEO John Tapics stated that his 1975 stint as a worker in an underground mine was the most experience in underground mining held by any Compliance board members. If true, that is unacceptable risk.”

Another consistent theme throughout the meeting was a resounding call for a full independent review panel, and for more public meetings in impacted communities like Denman Island and Qualicum Beach. Over 22 environmental, community, labour organizations and local governments have joined that call.

“The location and scheduling of the meetings effectively excludes many Denman and Hornby Islanders,” says Mike Morrell, from Denman Opposes Coal. Residents on Denman will be able to directly see the proposed mine site. “ We have repeatedly requested that a public meeting be held on Denman and have been refused.”

The Wilderness Committee and its allies are gearing up for the upcoming public meetings in Port Alberni and Union Bay. It is expected that both meetings will have large crowds.