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Scientists say money and connections have too much power in B.C. politics, following the green-lighting of a controversial gravel mining project on the Fraser River expected to have serious impact on sturgeon and salmon habitat.
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/ne...cisions-fraser-river-records-suggest?page=0,0
Since the 2012 omnibus bills by the federal government, gravel mining projects no longer trigger an environmental assessment unless they will cause permanent harm to the environment, or destroy certain types of endangered or commercially used fish.
"The Fraser River is a Canadian Heritage River," Werring said.
"There is nothing natural, cultural or recreational about mining tonnes of gravel from a river simply to try to provide the aggregate industry with a cheap source of material in order to meet an insatiable, and growing, need to build infrastructure."
Werring said that in the past, when a request for this kind of industrial project in the Fraser River was made, it would automatically trigger a review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The government would then look at the project's potential impact on fish, fish habitat and the environment.
Now, he said, there is no need for an environmental assessment for projects like these, except in very limited circumstances.
Langer said he and others have had to put in Freedom of Information requests to have a look at the previous version of the Seabird gravel mining project.
"This is an insult to the public interest. People are applying to see the impact to the environment or on their neighbourhood, and they're not allowed to see what that is? I can't comprehend that in Canada. I thought we were living in a democracy."
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/ne...cisions-fraser-river-records-suggest?page=0,0
Since the 2012 omnibus bills by the federal government, gravel mining projects no longer trigger an environmental assessment unless they will cause permanent harm to the environment, or destroy certain types of endangered or commercially used fish.
"The Fraser River is a Canadian Heritage River," Werring said.
"There is nothing natural, cultural or recreational about mining tonnes of gravel from a river simply to try to provide the aggregate industry with a cheap source of material in order to meet an insatiable, and growing, need to build infrastructure."
Werring said that in the past, when a request for this kind of industrial project in the Fraser River was made, it would automatically trigger a review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The government would then look at the project's potential impact on fish, fish habitat and the environment.
Now, he said, there is no need for an environmental assessment for projects like these, except in very limited circumstances.
Langer said he and others have had to put in Freedom of Information requests to have a look at the previous version of the Seabird gravel mining project.
"This is an insult to the public interest. People are applying to see the impact to the environment or on their neighbourhood, and they're not allowed to see what that is? I can't comprehend that in Canada. I thought we were living in a democracy."
