Dear Editor,
Many of us have tried to get an understanding what the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) actually is or does these days, especially in light of the applications of Woodfibre LNG and Eagle Mountain Woodfibre pipeline are
under review. Fortunately it has clearly explained in an article in BC Business magazine: “The problem with (self-regulated) environmental assessments.”
In a nutshell the writer argues, that the work of BC Environmental Assessment Office does not in fact do any environmental assessment work and has very little capacity to check if data and information provided to be correct. Due to budget cuts, and because of changes in provincial and federal environmental protection laws, the EAO now relies on environmental assessments being done by consultants hired by the company that wants to submit an application for a project. This clear conflict of interest undermines the important principle independence for this process.
After reading the article, I must admit that I have lost the little trust I had in the BC Environmental Assessment process, not for political, but for process reasons. It seems the environmental assessment process is designed to function as a mechanism to give the companies, applying for an environmental certificate, an easy route. The environmental standards BC still has, are not adequately applied due to the questionable assessment process.
In its shortsightedness, this government has done a disservice to all.
Anton van Walraven
