September 10, 2001 is the deadline for public comments on the proposed Port Alberni Generation Project (PAGP). For more information, click here. The Port Alberni Citizens Stewardship Coalition (250-723-2666) asks you to write a letter of your own, or send this suggested letter, to the Project Committee, with copies to the following people, and one to you:

• Jan Hagen, Project Assessment Director
• Stan Hagen, Minister of Sustainable Resource Management
• Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy and Mines
• Jean Crepault, Project Manager, GSX Project Review, CEAA

It is essential that the proposed PAGP be subjected to close scrutiny and that the public have an opportunity to present arguments in a formal hearing process. This will not happen, unless the review is advanced to Stage 3 Environmental Assessment Board Hearings. More information at the EAO, click here.

A Stage 3 hearing has not happened before in BC. Let the Environmental Assessment Office, and the politicians who will decide this matter, know how important it is that PAGP get a public hearing.

PAGP may not even get a Stage 2 Project Report and Review, unless enough people insist on it. By sending a letter, you are letting the ministers know what they should be doing.

The project will remain at a Stage 1 Application Review, which will almost certainly be a perfunctory endorsement of the proposal. Don't let this happen.

Some of the important issues that need to be examined with PAGP:

• There are better alternatives to obtain power (conservation, wind, replace cable systems, etc.)
• BC Hydro has not demonstrated a need for the power at this time
• Burning natural gas creates greenhouse gases, contravening our Kyoto and Bonn commitments
• Burning natural gas creates local pollution, noise
• The people of Port Alberni don't want it!

View the letter or get the text document