YVR fuel delivery project gets green light
Posted December 12, 2013 3:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – The controversial fuel delivery project at the Vancouver Airport has been given the green light by the provincial government.
The Environmental Assessment Office says the project is not expected to have any adverse effects.
Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities will be required to have two tugs escorting tanks for each barge coming to the marine terminal.
There are more than 60 other stipulations including doubled-hulled tankers and regular screening of the pipeline operation.
There will also have to be an automated fire detection system.
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson says council will be looking at this very closely, she still has some questions as to what impacts it will have.
“We want to look at this in depth and find out exactly what all of this means and we want to have our Delta fire, police, our Delta emergency planning committee, along with our CAO, we want to have a look at the conditions, at what is being proposed. What I would intend on doing is taking the package for reference to council on Monday.”
A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision can be found in the Reasons for Ministers’ Decision here.
Key conditions for the Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery project include the following related to spill and fire prevention, preparedness and response:
- At least two escort tugs for each tanker and one tug for each cargo barge coming into the marine terminal.
- Vessels will be under the expert control of pilots specifically trained for the Fraser River environment.
- Specify that all aviation fuel delivery vessels using the facility are: Pre-screened through a tanker acceptance program before they enter Canadian waters; Double-hulled; Insured for pollution liability at the prevailing industry standard and that coverage limits are sufficient to insure the potential liability of the vessel owner and operator to cover emergency spill response, clean-up, and environmental remediation and to compensate for loss by aboriginal food, social, and ceremonial fishers licensed under the Fisheries Act caused by a spill of aviation fuel from the vessel.
- Regular cleaning and integrity inspections during pipeline operation.
- Automatic leak detection system and automatic and manual shut-off systems.
- A Fire Safety Plan prepared and implemented in consultation with the City of Richmond Fire Rescue, the Corporation of Delta Fire, Provincial Emergency Services, and the BC Oil and Gas Commission.
- Firefighting systems at the fuel-receiving facility and marine terminal that will protect fuel transfer areas and storage tanks, including: A high-expansion foam fire protection system connected to a fixed foam storage and dispensing unit at the fuel-receiving facility; Automated fire detection systems; and a fire hydrant system.
The province says several major components and activities of the Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery project were included in the environmental assessment.
