Notice of Commencement of an Environmental Assessment

Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project

Richmond (BC)

March 8, 2010 (Updated May 3, 2012) -- The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is required to ensure that a screening is conducted pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act commencing on March 8, 2010 in relation to the project: Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project.

The Vancouver International Airport's (YVR's) existing fuel delivery system, consisting of a 41 km long pipeline system between the airport storage facility and an existing terminal in Burrard Inlet, is inadequate to meet forecast fuel demand. It is currently supplemented by up to 35 tanker trucks each day. The Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC), is proposing to develop a new fuel delivery system that will:

  • reduce the footprint of activity currently required to maintain fuel delivery;
  • secure flexible access to a broad range of competitive offshore international fuel supply sources; and
  • meet the forecast long-term demand for fuel at YVR.

The proposed Project has three (3) components:

1. Upgrade and Operation of an Existing Marine Terminal on the Fraser River

VAFFC owns a waterfront property with an existing marine terminal on the north shore of the South Arm of the Fraser River, approximately 2 km east of Highway 99 and 1 km north of the Steveston Highway. VAFFC proposes upgrades to the marine terminal to accommodate fuel cargo shipments on a range of vessel types and sizes, from 20,000 DWT articulated barges to 40,000 DWT Handysize tankers, and up to partially laden Panamax-class tankers in the 60,000 to 80,000 dwt category. These upgrades will consist of structural strengthening of the marine terminal, installation of new breasting and mooring infrastructure, construction of fuel off-loading and transfer facilities and equipment and, depending on the final design concept selected, possibly initial dredging of the riverbed between the navigation channel and the terminal berth to ensure adequate underkeel clearance for Panamax-class tankers during all river conditions.

2. Construction and Operation of a Fuel Receiving Facility

VAFFC intends to lease an upland portion of industrially zoned land owned by Port Metro Vancouver (the Port) to construct and operate a fuel receiving facility. The proposed lease area is located directly adjacent and northeast of VAFFC's marine terminal property. VAFFC intends to construct six above ground steel tanks within a secondary containment compound on the land, which will have a total storage capacity of approximately 80 million litres (500,000 barrels, bbl). The proposed lease area will be able to accommodate a further two tanks as determined by distant future fuel demand at YVR.

3. Construction and Operation of Pipelines

VAFFC proposes to construct an approximate 1 km long pipeline to transfer off-loaded fuel from the marine terminal to the fuel receiving facility, and an approximate 15 km long pipeline to deliver fuel from the fuel receiving facility to YVR. The fuel transfer pipeline will be approximately 16 inches to 20 inches in diameter, and the fuel delivery pipeline will be approximately 10 inches to 12 inches in diameter. With the exception of the crossing under Williams Road, the transfer pipeline will be located on industrially zoned land either owned by VAFFC or leased from the Port. The delivery pipeline will be constructed 2 to 3 metres under existing transportation and/or utility corridors in the City of Richmond. Major road and waterway crossings (e.g., Highway 99 and the Moray Channel of the Fraser River) will be installed by directionally drilling underground. A preliminary route alignment has been identified west from the fuel receiving facility along Williams Road, then north along No. 5 Road, west along Westminster Highway, north along Shell Road, and west along Bridgeport Road or Bridgeport Trail to the Moray Channel. The route would cross under the Moray Channel and then follow adjacent to existing airport service roads on Sea Island to reach VAFFC's fuel facilities at YVR. The pipeline will avoid the Sea Island Conservation Area. Alternative route alignments within this general corridor may exist (i.e., the Shell Road corridor) and VAFFC will continue to investigate and consult with the City of Richmond on options before selecting a final route.

Initially, the barges that currently service the existing Burrard Inlet terminal are expected to be the type of vessels servicing the Project. Handysize tankers, and potentially Panamax-class tankers, are anticipated over the long-term as determined by future demand for fuel at YVR and sources of international fuel supplies.

An environmental assessment is required in relation to the project because the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority may provide federal lands.

This project is also subject to the environmental assessment requirements of the Government of British Columbia.

For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact:
Carrie Brown
Manager, Environmental Programs
Port Metro Vancouver
100 The Pointe
999 Canada Place
Vancouver BC V6C 3T4
Telephone: 604-665-9081
Fax: 1-866-284-4271
Email: carrie.brown@portmetrovancouver.com

and refer to Registry reference number 10-01-53860

Document Reference Number: 1

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