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The BCMEA Bulletin December 10th, 2015
FSD Coal Terminal Gets New Green Light From Port
peacearchnews.com
A revised proposal to build a new coal export terminal on the Fraser River in Surrey has received approval
from Port Metro Vancouver.
The port authority on Monday issued an amended project permit to Fraser Surrey Docks that approves
the company’s altered plan to load coal directly onto ocean-going ships, rather than first barging coal to a
transfer site at Texada Island as originally planned.
The $15-million terminal would bring at least four million tonnes per year of U.S. thermal coal by rail through
White Rock, South Surrey and Delta, adding one extra coal train per day.
Fraser Surrey Docks officials had cited the “challenging” economics of continued low coal prices for the
switch to loading directly to ships last May. The change removed one of the objections of opponents – that
coal dust from open barges would be more prone to wafting out into neighbourhoods and the environment.
An estimated 80 ships would haul coal out each year, instead of 640 barge loads.
“Extremely depressed” coal prices also recently prompted one U.S. coal firm to recently announce a threeyear
halt to shipments through B.C. It means a four million tonne decrease in coal – equivalent to one train
per day – coming by rail to Westshore Terminals at Deltaport from 2016-18.
Fraser Surrey Docks’ project is still facing court challenges and the requirement to get an air emissions
permit from Metro Vancouver, after abandoning its court challenge of the regional district’s authority.
The company has previously said 2017 is the earliest the new terminal could be operating.
http://www.peacearchnews.com/news/359159251.html
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