In a statement on 7 April, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said the Federal Review Panel Report has provided it with a “road map” to further mitigate the effects of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project on the environment, in addition its existing proposed mitigation measures. It said it has a federal mandate to protect the environment and wants to build the terminal in a way that upholds this mandate and aligns with its sustainability vision.
The federal report concluded that the project, which requires the conversion of 177 ha of intertidal and subtidal habitat on Roberts Bank to construct a new three-berth container terminal, expand an existing causeway and enlarge an existing tug basin, “would result in numerous adverse residual and cumulative effects”.
Published on 27 March, the report said that that construction and operation of the proposed project do not pose major technical challenges and the project would enable an increase in container terminal capacity on Canada’s west coast, but said the port authority’s plan to deal with environmental disruption wasn’t sufficient.
“The proposed offsetting plan for aquatic species, totalling 29 hectares, would be insufficient to compensate for the reduction in productivity associated with a Project-induced habitat loss of 177 hectares of Roberts Bank. There would be significant adverse and cumulative effects on wetlands and wetland functions at Roberts Bank.”
The report addresses the impact on migratory birds and salmon, plus the “critical habitat” of the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW), listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act. It also notes that the project would affect the traditional territories of several indigenous groups.
The port authority pointed out in its statement that it leads the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) programme. It said progress it has seen from the programme has encouraged it to look at project-specific initiatives it could put in place, in collaboration with indigenous groups and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, that would help support the recovery of SRKW.
On 30 March, the port authority also stated: “After many years of environmental study conducted by independent experts, we are confident in the information we have provided throughout the environmental assessment, and in our conclusion that the project and marine shipping associated with the project will not have any adverse effects to the environment that cannot be mitigated.”