PRVA Community Forum

lily Point ceremony

Jeff Butts — Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:41 pm

Author: Jeff Butts

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:41 pm

I hope everyone realizes what a big deal this is, and that every inch of open land is under threat from development. The expansion of the Port, a new 5,000 home community on Boundary Bay, a 100 home gated community on the west side of Lily Point, 180 Condo's at the Point Roberts Golf Course, 50 plus new homes by the Marina.

This is all feeding into a Puget Sound that is reeling from the last 25 years of development. There is talk of the people of the Point coming together, and this community forum is a nice venue to have more voices heard.

I hope that all of us on both sides of the border can unite to preserve not only Lily Point, but the character and charm of all of Point Roberts and surrounding communities that impact the Puget Sound

Meeting Wednesday 7pm

Kevin — Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:40 am

Author: Kevin

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:40 am

The schedule for Point Roberts Registered Voters meetings are:

Every other Wednesday at 7pm:

June 13th
June 27th

At the Point Roberts Community Center

Environment/port expansion effects video

Kevin — Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:21 pm

Author: Kevin

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:21 pm

Damien Gillis's new video on the South Fraser Perimeter Road.

This video deals with the community and environmental impacts on Delta by the road. He Interviewed two pioneers of the community--Hazel Norum and Sig Iverson, residents since 1937 and 1926 respectively--who are being uprooted or significantly impacted by the SFPR.

www.youtube.com/v/4UhrenF8SNE

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Classes in Pt. Bob

Kevin — Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:28 pm

Author: Kevin

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:28 pm

Point Roberts is forming a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the heavy demand for these services. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.

The training teaches people how to take care of their families and neighbors immediately following a major disaster, when professional emergency responders may be overwhelmed, and unable to quickly reach areas where roads are damaged, flooded, or snowed in.

Training:
Over 21 hours of classroom and 'hands on' training in disaster preparedness for adults and teens over 16 that want to help save lives and protect property.

Where:
Located at Point Roberts Fire Hall, 2030 Benson Road

When:
Friday, June 15th, 6-9pm
Saturday, June 16, 8-4pm
Friday, June 29th, 6-9pm
Saturday, June 30, 8-4pm

How Much:
$50 US to cover equipment and materials

Registration:
By June 8th

Contact:
Carol Tan 945-0905 or Henry Rosenthal 945-1711

more info on CERT training:

www.co.whatcom.wa.us/dem/educate/cert/cert.jsp

Info on Port Expansion & Gateway Project

Kevin — Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:43 pm

Author: Kevin

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:43 pm

APE (Against Port Expansion):
www.againstportexpansion.org

SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation):
www.spec.bc.ca

Livable Region Coalition
www.livableregion.ca

Gateway 30 Network
www.stopgateway.ca

More on the environmentally threatening highway mega-project (Gateway)
www.gatewaysucks.ca

Hoover Naas alternative proposal to the Gateway Program
www.thereisanotherway.com

Starting before the environmental assessment process

Susan — Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:09 pm

Author: Susan

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:09 pm

Georgia Basin / Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/air/airquality/gbps_airshed.html

Transboundary Agreements
http://www.pnwis.org/2004%20Events/PortAQ/Morris%20Mennell.pdf

B.C. Transportation Financing Authority buys 2 properties along the SFPR in January 2005 before the environmental assessment process. Sellers make $1.9 million and $2.1 million profit on the properties in less than one year.

One seller is Jeffrey Merrick who negotiated the Sea to Sky Highway contract on behalf of Macquarie Essential Assets Partnership to design, build and operate the Sea-to-Sky Highway. He also acted for Macquarie Bank Limited in the acquisition and subsequent disposition of the two major Public Private Partnership projects in B.C., including the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre.

Susan

Delta Port Expansion impact on Point Roberts - PRVA letter

Campbell — Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:25 pm

Author: Campbell

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:25 pm

To: kathleendrew@gov.wa.gov
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 15:48:48 -0400
Subject: Delta Port Expansion impact on Point Roberts

Kathleen,

The Point Roberts Registered Voters Association Executive Board is in the process, despite this recent Victoria Day long weekend on the Canadian side, to garner the latest pertinent materials from the multitude of groups opposing the Delta Port Expansion at Roberts Bank.

This is intended to be a brief overview of concerns we wish to put to the Governor's Office regarding the extent to which Point Roberts is being, or may be, impacted by Delta Port.

The Governor's Puget Sound: Protecting Our Health and Safety policy brief includes several rubrics which may be relevant: "Prevent Toxic Pollution, Restore Damaged Shorelines, Protect Essential Habitat" and "Protecting Puget Sound." The Transboundary Agreement, especially as it pertains to air pollution, may be relevant too. The Georgia Basin Initiative (see: http://www.ec.gc.ca/canada_us/air/index_e.htm ) may also have relevance to what may be impending here.

What is happening that concerns our association and many residents here:
1.The Tsawwassen ferry terminal and the "fast track" installed Delta Port terminal two consist of causeways. The under-construction third terminal is also a causeway. These multiple solid projections into the Straight of Georgia effectively thrust the Fraser estuary silt flow away from the shorelines south of the river mouth. Park personnel at Lighthouse Park here on the Point have noted a total of 25 feet of shoreline erosion over the past several years. The levels of "beach" against the sea wall at Maple Beach have also significantly lowered over the past several years. Washington prohibitions against drift sills (groins) effectively nullifies countermeasures.

2. The prevailing breezes carry freighter and coal pollution toward the Point much of the year. Coal has been shipped from this facility and is assembled before loading in loose pyramids of black powder. Efforts to reduce this dust drifting toward Tsawwassen and the Point are only marginally effective. The projected increases in freighter, truck and rail traffic promise considerably grayer hazes drifting from Delta Port. We have seen no evidence that the freighters plying these ports are or will be required to adapt the emission standards Washington State has imposed. Most of these freighters fuel up in distant Asian ports with dirty blends of cheap diesel. It is alleged that unregulated "monster ships" coming to Delta Port burn up to 2,000 gallons per hour of cheap, dirty, Bunker C diesel oil. Multiply that by the projected three-fold increase. Diesel truck traffic is already reaching 5,000/day (2,500 runs to the port and 2,500 back from it) and container ships to 400/yr. The overall particulate matter pollution may pose a threat to human health as well. Property values are suffering; already in North Delta a class action suit against BC is in the works for loss of property values.

3. Endangered species may be further threatened as the volume of shipping grows. It is already observed that salmon are rounding the north of Vancouver Island to reach the mouth of the river. Orca pods may begin to seek another route rather then pass the Point, thus avoiding the noise and other pollution resulting from freighter traffic. The three pods number 89 whales now and appear to be going through another of the periods they have suffered since the late 1960s and early 1970s. Pollution may also impact on the north-south migratory bird flyway. The flyway's focal point is the Fraser River estuary. Any significant shipping accident would likely threaten the estuary ecosystem on which salmon, orcas and migratory birds depend. The Puget Sound airshed is supposed to be protected by existing international agreements.

4. Article III of the Boundary Water Treaty states that " . . . it is agreed that . . . no further or other uses or obstructions or diversions . . . of boundary waters on either side of the line, affecting the natural level or flow of boundary waters on the other side of the line shall be made except by authority of the United States or the Dominion of Canada within their respective jurisdictions and with the approval . . . of a joint commission, to be known as the International Joint Commission." We find no evidence that this "commission" is actively engaged in any examination or corrective recommendations regarding Delta Port.

5. It may be relevant to the port expansion that BC Hydro recently has been extending and obtaining exclusive easement across U.S. privately owned tidelands here off the west shoreline of the Point for submarine cable installations between the mainland and Vancouver Island. Beyond deals with private owners, there is no evidence of any quid-pro-quo obtained or being sought by Washington State or the USG. The Hoover-Naas movement (see http://www.thereisanotherway.com ) has learned that the most economical approach for BC Hydro would be to run cables out the causeways and then across to Vancouver Island. The causeway people have no objection to this. Such provision of power built into the causeways of terminals 2 and 3 would permit the container ships to shut down while in port and at least reduce whatever pollution would otherwise be put into the airshed. But the Vancouver Port entities evidently have turned a deaf ear even to this kind of advice even though it is not trying to stop the port expansion.

6. Governor Schwarzenegger is to visit BC next week to discuss, among other matters, the "Green" initiatives spawned by California and already spread up the US West Coast, with Gordon Campbell. Point Roberts, nearby Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula may be the first US West Coast lands and communities to suffer the clearly non-"green" developments surrounding Vancouver Port development and expansion of Delta Port. Maybe matters involving Point Roberts could be raised with BC and Ottawa. And maybe the international aspects of the environmental, wildlife, and human health consequences of the what is going on at Delta Port should involve the US Dept of State as well.

7. The Point Roberts Registered Voters Association is currently acquiring signatures on the following petition:

Point Roberts residents and property owners signing below ask Washington State and the Governor to:

1) Recognize the coastal erosion problems Point Roberts faces as a result of British Columbia Delta Port blockage or diversion of the natural siltation flow from the South arm of the mouth of the Fraser River;
2) Recognize the existing environmental pollution from the activity at the near-by Delta Port from: A) increasing shipping volume, B) increasing rail traffic, C) round-the-clock truck traffic, D) ever increasing coal and sulfur dust, and E) damaging salmon runs, orca traffic, and shellfish beds;
[and]
3) Represent U.S. international rights, existing protections and agreements regarding coasts and waterways as well as obtaining quid-pro-quo entitlements regarding territorial concessions U.S. has made and is making to Canada."

Submitted on behalf of the Point Roberts Registered Voters Association,
Campbell McClusky, President

Volunteer committees for APE (Against Port Expansion)

Liz — Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:51 pm

Author: Liz

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:51 pm

The APE website:

http://www.againstportexpansion.org/

I wanted to update you on some organizational changes within APE. A volunteer meeting was held recently and 35 people came by to offer their assistance in fighting this battle. As a result, we have now formed the following committees. Please let me know if you're interested in hooking up with any of these groups.

* Events
* Legal
* Fundraising
* Research (air quality, environmental impact)
* Distribution - newspapers, flyers
* Public Awareness - letter writing, advertising, etc.
* Lobbying (business community and politicians)
* Liaison (with other public concern groups)
* Web Activities - emails, links, wiki, blogs
* Youth (S-->APE) Students Against Port Expansion

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

...Liz
http://www.againstportexpansion.org/

Ship Emissions - Vancouver Sun

Liz — Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:43 pm

Author: Liz

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:43 pm

FYI - The following article was in the weekend edition of the Vancouver Sun.

Ships No. 2 source of industrial emissions of CO2

Only Fort Nelson gas-fired electricity-generating plant emits more greenhouse gas

Scott Simpson

Vancouver Sun

Saturday, March 03, 2007

International marine traffic is British Columbia's second-largest industrial source of greenhouse gas, the primary cause of global warming, according to a new study of ocean-going ship emissions released this week.

The study is the first authoritative update in seven years, and shows that commercial vessels plying British Columbia's south coast are collectively emitting 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and significant volumes of nine other contaminants and greenhouse gasses.

That's a 20-per-cent increase in the volume of emissions since the last major study was undertaken in 2000.

The B.C. Chamber of Shipping sponsored the study, and noted a 68-per-cent participation rate among its throng of members -- who contributed information from 1,428 international vessels making 3,565 voyages into B.C. waters from April 2005 to March 2006.

Chamber president Rick Bryant said in an interview on Friday that the study indicates a lower rate of emissions growth than the 2000 study projected.

A greater number of new ships with cleaner-burning engines, and an increase in the capacity of new container ships have helped curtail growth of emissions.

"We really haven't seen the growth in the number of ships even though there has been the growth in cargo. That's come about as a result of bigger ships, which are new ships and cleaner ships," Bryant said.

In B.C.'s industrial sector, only the Fort Nelson gas-fired electricity generating plant accounts for a bigger volume of greenhouse gas, according to Environment Canada data.

Bryant will present the study on Tuesday to the Greater Vancouver regional district's environment committee.

It shows that the vast majority of ships are almost exclusively fueled by bunker oil -- the cheapest and dirtiest fuel available for diesel engines.

The only notable exceptions are cruise ships -- which are compelled by some U.S. authorities to use higher-grade diesel fuel.

Bryant said his members agree air quality is a concern and are urging the International Marine Organization to "improve its requirements, and reduce the sulphur in the fuel and reduce the amount of NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions."

He added that unilateral action by California to compel ships to use higher grade diesel fuel will have spinoff benefits for B.C.

The automobile is B.C.'s greatest source of greenhouse gas at 41 per cent or 4.3 million tonnes per year.

However, a local environmentalist says plans to expand Canada's top port could soon bring the B.C. marine sector close to the automobile.

Karen Wristen, executive director of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, says a tripling of marine traffic -- and the emissions that would create -- could be just a few years away. The B.C. government's Gateway plan includes a third berth and a second terminal at Deltaport container port.

Wristen said the net effect of the Gateway expansion would be an increase in air pollution.

"It's still way too much greenhouse gas, it's still way too much particulate," Wristen said.

ssimpson@png.canwest.com

Port Expansion Online Petition

Liz — Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:40 pm

Author: Liz

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:40 pm

In an effort to persuade the federal government to do the right thing, we have set up an online petition against port expansion plans on Roberts Bank. Further port development was met with disapproval 25 years ago by a previous government. The current government has decided to ignore the past recommendations and is turning a blind-eye to some extremely serious issues. The endangered orca whales; the Fraser River Estuary; a globally significant migratory bird route; the industrialization of prime agricultural lands; and the thousands of citizens forced to breathe in port-incurred air pollutants that are linked to lung cancer and asthma are just some of the concerns that have been tossed aside to pave the way for port development. We invite you to stand beside us and tell the federal government that "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH". There should be no more port expansion on Roberts Bank.

Our petition's URL address is:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/APE2007/petition.html

If you would like any information, please email ape.info@dccnet.com