Save Howe Sound – AGAIN!

UPDATE JANUARY 2018:

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is extending their invitations of public comments until January 26, 2018 on the Comprehensive Study Report. Please follow the link and submit your comments. Our SCCA team is working on our final submission to the CEAA and will post it here soon.

You can read the comments we submitted in November 2017 on the Draft Provincial Referral Materials here.


Burnco Rock Products of Calgary propose a large scale gravel mine at McNab Creek, in the middle of Howe Sound. A 30-hectare pit, onsite crusher producing 20 million tonnes of aggregate over 16 years. The project will create 12 direct operational jobs.

In the summer of 2016, a public comment period indicated widespread opposition to this heavy industrial development in the natural estuary flourishing with marine life.  You can read Burnco’s responses to the 3590 issues raised by the public here. The SCCA was awarded participant funding from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), which enabled our committee to put together a submission compiled from concerns raised by our members and the community at large. It is founded on local and professional knowledge of the McNab watershed and its surrounding environment. You can read our submission here from October 2016.

The BC Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) and the CEAA are in the process of “writing their technical assessment report taking into consideration all of the information along with mitigations in the form of legally binding conditions.”  Another 30 day public comment period to review the conclusions will be held prior to the report being sent to the Ministers responsible for decision.  You can find more information on the Burnco EAO process here.

The Future of Howe Sound Society has been championing the efforts to inform the public and challenge the development. Their website has exceptionally comprehensive information about the history of the proposed mine, the ecological and biodiversity values of the area, and the concerns of how this project impacts residents, quality of life, and the recover of Howe Sound.  Check out these pages to get informed on the issue:

BURNCO McNab Proposal Background

BURNCO Gravel Mine Environmental Assessment resumes

Want to help?  Sign the Future of Howe Sound Society’s petition to call for protection of the McNab Estuary here.

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