The British Columbia government has issued an environmental assessment certificate for the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in Delta, following federal approval.
The environmental assessment was conducted by a federal review panel on behalf of both levels of government. It involved extensive consultation with technical experts, federal and provincial agencies, local governments, 48 First Nations and the public. The federal government approved the project on April 20, 2023, imposing 370 requirements within its jurisdiction to address environmental effects.
The B.C. ministers noted that with the project almost entirely on federal lands, within federal jurisdiction and approved by the federal government, a decision not to issue a B.C. certificate could not prohibit the project from going forward. Issuing the certificate with provincial requirements safeguards provincial interests.
The the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) also established an advisory provincial review team for the project, made up of provincial and local government staff with expertise on relevant provincial matters, who contributed to the provincial report.
The government has set out 16 conditions to offset harm the expansion will have on the area, including a wetland management plan, a wildlife management plan and a greenhouse-gas reduction plan for emissions.
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 is a proposed three-berth marine container terminal that would expand the existing container terminal currently located at Roberts Bank in Delta. It would also involve widening the existing causeway to accommodate additional rail infrastructure, adding road connections and utilities and expanding the existing tug-boat basin.
According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the project will deliver substantial economic benefits, including more than 18,000 jobs during construction; more than 17,300 ongoing jobs; an estimated $3 billion in GDP annually once built; and $631 million in tax revenue to support services for Canadians.
