The Deltaport Third Berth Project required provincial approval under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act and federal approval following a review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Project has been comprehensively reviewed by federal and provincial government agencies through a single, harmonized environmental assessment process facilitated by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and has been open to the full participation of stakeholders and the general public during all phases of the review.

Background on the Canada BC Environmental Assessment Cooperation Agreement can be found here.

The Project requires federal approvals under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). Pursuant to subsection 21(1) of the Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada as the federal responsible authorities for the project assessment, invited the public to comment on the proposed scope of the project. Comments were received from July 23, 2004 to August 23, 2004.

On December 17, 2004, the Minister of Environment announced that a comprehensive study was the most appropriate means for conducting the environmental assessment of the Deltaport Third Berth Project.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada completed their comprehensive study of the Project in coordination with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office. The comprehensive study report was available to the public for comment from July 19, 2006 to September 1, 2006. Public comments on the comprehesive study report were sent to the Minister of Environment with the comprehensive study report for her decision.

On November 3, 2006 the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) , announced that the proposed Deltaport Third Berth Expansion Project is unlikely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The Minister has referred the project back to the responsible authorities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada, for appropriate actions. Please visit the CEAA website to view the news release and decision statement.

Please visit the CEAA website to view the DP3 Comprehensive Study Report.

The Vancouver Port Authority submitted its Environmental Assessment Certificate Application for the Project to the EAO in January 2005. The EAO formal public comment period started on February 24, 2005 and closed on May 9, 2005. On May 4, 2005, the EAO announced a second formal public comment period, which started on May 11, 2005 and closed on May 18, 2005.

During the ongoing review of the Application and the Project, addressing review agency and public comments, the VPA produced four supplemental documents. A third public comment period ran from December 16, 2005 to January 25, 2006 to receive comments on the four supplemental documents.

On September 29, 2006 the Vancouver Port Authority received a provincial environmental assessment certificate for the Deltaport Third Berth Project. Please visit the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) website to view the information bulletin.

On December 14, 2006, the Vancouver Port Authority entered into a legal agreement with Environment Canada titled “Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the Adaptive Management Strategy”. The Adaptive Management Strategy is one of the over 150 commitments outlined within the provincial environmental assessment certificate that the Vancouver Port Authority will implement during the course of the project.

VPA - Environment Canada MOU (Executed) - Adaptive Managment Stratey DP3 Expansion Project [PDF | 1715 KB]

The Vancouver Port Authority provided written responses to the comments that were received during three formal public comment periods. The response tables were mailed to individuals and interest groups who submitted comments on the Application to the EAO.

Click on the PDF documents below to view the response tables:

VPA Responses – Public Comment Period 1 [PDF | 320 KB]

VPA Responses – Public Comment Period 2 [PDF | 475 KB]

VPA Responses - Public Comment Period 3 [PDF | 940 KB]

Response tables are also available on the EAO website.

The VPA provided written responses to comments from the Working Groups/ Agencies. These responses are contained in Compendium A, B and C on the EAO website.

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