The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has submitted its application to the Provincial Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) for an environmental certificate to construct the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project.

An application review period of up to 180 days is now underway. This review period will include a 60-day public comment period on the application, with three public open houses.

The intention of seeking public comments is to ensure that all potential effects – environmental, economic, social, heritage and health – that might result from the project are identified for consideration as part of the assessment process.

The 60-day public comment period is from Aug. 3 to Oct. 3, 2016, with open houses scheduled:

• Aug. 17, 2016 
  2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  Delta Town and Country – Terrace Room
  6005 Highway 17A (at Highway 99)
  Delta

• Sept. 13, 2016
  2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  Sandman Signature Hotel Vancouver Airport – Round Room
  10251 St. Edwards Dr.
  Richmond

• Sept. 14, 2016
  2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  Delta Town and Country – Ballroom
  6005 Highway 17A (at Highway 99)
  Delta

In addition to the open houses, comments can be submitted online during the public comment period at: www.eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/index.html

The EAO is a neutrally administered office that is required by law to undertake rigorous, thorough reviews of major projects proposed in British Columbia. These reviews provide significant opportunities for Aboriginal groups, government agencies and the public to inform the EAO’s assessment of the potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of a project.  

The EAO is also seeking advice from a technical working group comprised of provincial government agencies (Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Agricultural Land Commission, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health), federal government agencies (Transport Canada, Port Metro Vancouver, Environment and Climate Change Canada), Aboriginal groups, and local governments. Consultation with the technical working group will continue throughout the environmental assessment.

Past consultation opportunities included an EAO public comment period on Project Description and Key Areas of Study (Project Description/Valued Components) document (Jan. 15 – Feb. 15, 2016). Additional consultation was also undertaken by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

The George Massey Tunnel is nearing the end of its life and is an impediment to safe, efficient movement of goods and people along Highway 99. The tunnel has about 10 years left before the major components, like the lighting, ventilation and pumping systems, will need to be replaced.

While some seismic upgrades were done in 2008, further seismic upgrades are not possible without the risk of damaging the tunnel. This means a moderately significant earthquake could seriously damage or destroy the tunnel, cutting off this lifeline during an emergency and for months or years after.