March 24, 2008

Minister Barry Penner
Ministry of the Environment
Room 112, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Sent via email: barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca

Re: Private Power Application for Pinecone Burke Provincial Park

Dear Minister Penner,

The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) is writing to express its concerns regarding the application for private power production and proposed provincial park boundary adjustment submitted by Northwest Cascade Power Ltd., a subsidiary of Run of River Power Inc.

Run of River Inc. has requested an amendment of the B.C. Parks Act to move the park’s boundary to accommodate a 4.6 km transmission line across the northern and southern tips of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. The proposed 180 MW hydro facility project would adversely affect the eight tributaries of the Upper Pitt River and remove 52 acres from the existing park.

AWARE is strongly opposed to building a 42 km transmission line across the Class A park in the Upper Pitt River. This project sets a terrible precedent for the protection of the province’s parks and wild salmon rivers. Provincial park boundaries should not be altered to accommodate an environmentally damaging project, especially since it’s illegal to build power line right-of-ways in provincial parks.

If the province is serious about providing “green, clean” energy, then it should reconsider the feasibility of the existing Site C project on the Peace River. AWARE supports a moratorium on all of B.C.’s run-of-river projects, until a study can be done to assess the cumulative effects of the 500+ hydro projects and transmission lines on the surrounding environment and ecosystems.

Sincerely,

AWARE – Board of Directors
aware@direct.ca
cc: comments@northwestcascadepower.com
PineconeBurke@gov.bc.ca

Bryce Leigh, 79 Garibaldi Drive, Whistler, B.C., V0N 1B1

October 30, 2007

Mayor and Council
Resort Municipality of Whistler
4325 Blackcomb Way
Whistler, B.C.
V0N 1B4

Re: Resort Municipality of Whistler Parking and Traffic Amendment Bylaw 1807, 2007

I support the staff and council’s efforts to limit idling in the RMOW. Any initiative that can reduce our Green House Gas emissions and improve our quality of life is a positive step.

However, I believe the 3 minute idling period is much too long. All the science and research indicate that after 10 to 12 seconds it uses less fuel to restart your engine than to keep it idling. Therefore, if it uses less fuel and causes less greenhouse gas emissions to turn your vehicle off if it is going to idle for more than 10 seconds, make the bylaw 10 seconds and eliminate idling while picking up or dropping off passengers.

This will also make the bylaw much easier to enforce as the leeway on 10 seconds could be doubled to 20 seconds at the discretion of the ticketing officer. But what is the leeway on 3 minutes another minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes? The message should be clear, idling is bad and it is not allowed past 10 seconds, period. (Except for the other exemptions listed in the bylaw.)

As a ski resort Whistler will clearly suffer the brunt of the effects of global warming. We cannot afford anything but the strictest environmental policies if we are serious about stopping global warming and preserving our glaciers and snow fields. This is another opportunity for Whistler to set the bar at the highest level and to set an example for the rest of the world that we are prepared to do whatever is in the best interests of the environment. We cannot afford the consequences of not doing all we can to limit global warming. We need to be leaders, not sheep! If as Mayor and Councilor you are not prepared to make an easy decision to help our environment, then how can the residents and guests of Whistler have confidence that you will be able to make the inevitably much harder decisions related to global warming that we imminently will need to consider.

Before enacting this, or any bylaw intent on reducing Green House Gas emissions, you need to consider how much we as residents and guests of Whistler are prepared to sacrifice for the health of our environment and conversely how much of our environment we are willing to sacrifice for our own personal short term comfort? In this case the answer is clear, limiting idling to 10 seconds will have minimal inconvenience on motorists but collectively it will be a positive step towards Whistler’s goal of sustainability.

Sincerely,

Bryce Leigh

October 12, 2007

Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment
P.O. Box 1370, Whistler, B.C., V0N 1B0

Ms. Steffanie Warriner, P. Eng.
Head, Environmental Management, Business and Standards Unit
2nd Fl, 10470 152nd Street
Surrey, B.C. V3R 0Y3
Email: steffanie.warriner@gov.bc.ca

Re: Coal Burning at Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill

Dear Ms. Warriner,

I am submitting this letter on behalf of the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE), stating our opposition to the burning of “low sulphur coal” at the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill.

According to its website, Port Mellon’s pulp mill prides itself on its environmentally friendly practices, yet it continues to burn dirty fuels and has been granted one of the most lenient set of environmental constraints possible.

For the Environment Ministry to approve coal use in pulp mills while the Premier issues press statements about clean energy and reducing B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40 million tonnes by 2020, is at best, disingenuous. AWARE does not support any amendments that would relax current air emissions standards in the Howe Sound area. While the pulp mill is not located in Whistler’s jurisdiction, the carbon emissions will be, when the expansion plan goes ahead.

Coal burning is the leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming, and toxic air pollutants. Anyone living, working or recreating in the Howe Sound/Sea to Sky corridor airshed has a right to be concerned, especially since it appears that the MoE is looking out for the interests of business and industry, over and above the interests of the public’s health and air quality.

AWARE is requesting that Ministry of the Environment officials suspend permission for any trial burnings of coal, implement an extension for the public comment period, and arrange for a stakeholders’ meeting as soon as possible. Any promise of green power generation that doesn’t include these aging pulp mills is a fairly empty one.

Sincerely,
Sara Jennings
President, AWARE