Home / Environment / First Nation sues over Burrard Inlet dredging plan
First Nation sues over Burrard Inlet dredging plan
11 Jul
Summary
- First Nation launches legal action against port authority's dredging.
- Dredging aims to accommodate larger oil tankers in Burrard Inlet.
- Nation cites cumulative impacts and ignored concerns over oil spill risks.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has initiated a legal challenge against the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's plan to dredge Burrard Inlet. The First Nation is seeking a judicial review to overturn permits that would allow for the dredging to commence in September, under the Second Narrows Bridge.
This initiative aims to deepen the navigation channel, enabling larger oil tankers, such as Aframax-class vessels, to load more fully from the Trans Mountain pipeline. Currently, these tankers are limited to approximately 80% capacity due to the inlet's depth.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation contends that the approval process was expedited, overlooking critical concerns regarding increased oil spill risks, shoreline erosion, and the cumulative environmental impact on marine life and their traditional practices.
Chief Justin George stated that despite good-faith attempts to resolve issues, their concerns were disregarded, necessitating court action to safeguard their territory. The port authority maintains that the dredging will not alter the largest vessel type permitted in the inlet.
The project, which involves removing approximately 25,000 cubic metres of material to a depth of six metres, follows the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline's operation in May 2024.
