Courtenay, March 13, 2013 – “We are grateful that we were able to ask Scott Fraser, NDP MLA for Alberni-Pacific Rim, to present our petition on the Raven Underground Coal Mine to the Legislature in Victoria on Wednesday,” said Dawn Christian of the Comox Valley Water Watch Coalition. “We had over 5,000 signatures of people mostly from the Valley who are asking the government to stop the mine.”
The 6000 acre underground mine proposed near Fanny Bay, with a life span of 16 years, along with its associated open pit Bear Mine, has been the subject of controversy and opposition in the Comox Valley for almost three years. Four local governments have passed resolutions calling for a joint panel review and independent aquifer mapping before the mine application proceeds.
Fraser asked the government why it was ignoring the wishes of local governments and not subjecting the mine to a full environmental assessment.
The BC Shellfish Growers Association is extremely concerned about the loss of a century old, sustainable farming industry in the Comox Valley and are thankful that Fraser has brought the need for a full, independent and comprehensive environmental assessment to the provincial legislature. The opposition to this project is massive and growing daily and we hope that the province understands the need to support a sustainable food industry on Vancouver Island over a short term and environmentally unsound project.
The Comox Valley Water Watch Coalition petition said that, in light of the threat the mine posed to streams and Baynes Sound, home of a renowned and prosperous shellfish industry which employs 600 people, as well as air pollution and traffic problems, the mine had no public consent and should be stopped.
FMI: John Synder, Coalwatch 250- 335-2246
Delores Broten, Comox Valley Water Watch 250-339-6117