Planning,PolicyandEnvironment

Tel.604.432.6350Fax604.4326296

File:CR0702ENV
TheHonourableCatherineMcKenna
MinisterofEnvironmentandClimateChange
200SacrCoeurBoulevard
Gatineau,QCK1A0H3

DearMinister:

Re:
Request for a Federal Environmental Assessment of the George Massey Tunnel
ReplacementProject

OnbehalfoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheGreaterVancouverRegionalDistrict(MetroVancouver),
I am writing to advise that at its April 1, 2016 regular meeting, the Board adopted the following
resolution:

ThattheGVRDBoardsendalettertothefederalMinisterofEnvironmentand
Climate Change requesting that the Minister, pursuant to section 14(2) of the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, order a federal environmental
assessmentoftheGeorgeMasseyTunnelReplacementProject.

Metro Vancouver is the regional government for the southwest region of British Columbia and is
comprised of 21 municipalities, 1 electoral area, and 1 Treaty First Nation. We provide regional
planning, regional utilities (including liquid waste, solid waste, and drinking water), and political
leadershiptoatotalpopulationbaseofapproximately2.4millioninthegreaterVancouverarea.

Givenourbroadresponsibilitiesindeliveringregionalservicesandinprotectingtheongoinglivability
ofthisregion,ourBoardisrequestingafederalenvironmentalassessmentoftheGeorgeMassey
TunnelReplacementProject.Wearerequestingthatafederalenvironmentalassessmentbereferred
to a review panel on which Metro Vancouver and other key stakeholder groups would have an
opportunitytoparticipate.

FederalEnvironmentalAssessmentReviewRequest
MetroVancouversspecificconcernswithrespecttotheGeorgeMasseyTunnelReplacementProject
are related to our legislative responsibilities in the areas of regional growth management and
planning,airqualityandclimatechange,environment,regionalparks,andregionalutilities.

TheProvinceofBritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportationandInfrastructuresproposaltoreplace
theexistingGeorgeMasseytunnelwitha10lanetolledbridgehasthepotentialtocausesignificant
adverseenvironmentaleffects.Potentialimpactsinclude:

MinisterofEnvironmentandClimateChange
RequestforaFederalEnvironmentalAssessmentoftheGeorgeMasseyTunnelReplacementProject
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1. ChangestoRegionalTransportationPatternswhichAffectRegionalGrowthManagement.
Althoughtwolanesofthe10lanetolledbridgearetobededicatedtransit/HOVlanes,the
projectasawholerepresentsamajor($3.5billion)expansionofcarorientedinfrastructure.
If implemented, it will create growth pressures that may impede the realization of Metro
2040:ShapingourFuture,theregionalgrowthstrategy,whichpromotescompact,transit
oriented development patterns, the efficient use of land, and an efficient transportation
network.

The potential impacts of this project on surrounding agricultural land, which the regional
growthstrategystrivestoprotect,andthepotentialtoshifttrafficcongestiontoadjacent
communities,areofparticularconcern.

Transportationdecisionsandfuturelanduseareinextricablylinkedandhavedirectandfar
reaching effects on the environment. These decisions will influence, if not determine,
whetherhumansettlementpatternsarecompactorsprawling.Aprojectofthismagnitude
requires an understanding of its impacts on future growth in the region to determine its
potentialtocausesignificantadverseenvironmentaleffects.

2. GreenhouseGasEmissionsandClimateChange
MetroVancouveranditsmembermunicipalitiesarecommittedtoreducinggreenhousegas
emissionsandtakingactiononclimatechange.Metro2040:ShapingourFuture,theregional
growthstrategy,encourageslanduseandtransportationinfrastructurethatreduceenergy
consumptionandgreenhousegasemissions,andimproveairquality.Itcontainsstrategiesto
help Metro Vancouver and member municipalities prepare for, and mitigate risks from,
climatechange.Inaddition,municipalofficialcommunityplansincludeprovinciallymandated
greenhousegasemissionreductiontargets.

TheMinistryofTransportationandInfrastructuresProjectDefinitionReportfortheGeorge
Massey Tunnel Replacement Project anticipates lower idlingrelated greenhouse gas
emissions, but contains no information related to the potential greenhouse gas emissions
thatwillresultfromtheprojectasawhole,whichmaybesignificant.TheProjectDefinition
Reportomitsanymentionofclimatechange.

ThroughtheProvinceofBritishColumbiasenvironmentalassessmentreviewprocessthus
far, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has committed to an evaluation of
potentialprojectrelatedchangesingreenhousegasemissions,butonlyinresponsetothe
demands of stakeholders. With respect to climate change specifically, the Ministry of
Transportation and Infrastructure has indicated it will examine how climate change may
impactitsproject,butwillnotconsiderthepotentialcontributionoftheprojecttoclimate
change.

Thepotentialforthisprojecttoincreasegreenhousegasemissionsandcontributetoclimate
changeisofconcerngiventhecommitmentsoflocal,provincial,andfederalgovernmentsto
addressclimatechangeimpacts.Minimalinformationisprovidedonthepotentiallongterm
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MinisterofEnvironmentandClimateChange
RequestforaFederalEnvironmentalAssessmentoftheGeorgeMasseyTunnelReplacementProject
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significantadverseenvironmentaleffectsrelatedtogreenhousegasemissionsandtherefore,
thisprojectrequiresamorethoroughevaluationontheseimpacts.

3. Habitat
TheFraserRiverestuaryisthesinglemostimportantareaofaquaticbirdandraptorhabitat
inBritishColumbia.Theintertidalmarshesfoundintheestuaryprovidecriticalrearingareas
forjuvenilesalmon.MetroVancouverhasalegislativeresponsibilitytoconsidertheregional
andcumulativeimpactsofprojectsontheregionsecology.

Inaddition,thecurrentGeorgeMasseytunnelandtheproposednewbridgebisectMetro
VancouversDeasIslandRegionalPark,havingadirectimpactonhabitatforwhichMetro
Vancouveristhepublicsteward.

A federal environmental review would, we hope, involve a more comprehensive and

completelookattheFraserRiverestuarythanthecurrentprovincialenvironmentalreview
entails.Thepublicconcernsrelatedtothepotentialsignificantadverseenvironmentaleffects
ontheFraserRiverandthePark,inouropinion,necessitateafederalenvironmentalreview.

MetroVancouverbelievesthattheconcernsraisedinthisletterhighlightthepotentialforsignificant
adverse environmental effects and, in Metro Vancouvers view, provide a compelling case for a
federal environmental review. Metro Vancouver therefore respectfully requests you use your
discretion,pursuanttosection14(2)oftheCanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentAct,2012,toorder
a federal environmental assessment of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project. Metro
Vancouverrequests,aswell,thatyouconsiderreferringthefederalenvironmentalassessmenttoa
review panel on which key stakeholder groups, including Metro Vancouver itself, would have an
opportunitytoparticipate.

Thankyouforyourconsiderationoftheserequests.

Yourstruly,

GregMoore
Chair,MetroVancouverBoard

cc:
TheHonourableMaryPolak,BCMinisterofEnvironment

TheHonourableToddStone,BCMinisterofTransportationandInfrastructure

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