RE: RE: RE: Year End... Sorry, the term I should have used was Aquifer mapping and study.
This has been asked for since at least 2009 by critics of the mine:
https://www.coalwatch.ca/cvwwc-tells-compliance-no-environmental-assessment-without-aquifer-maps
And on November 30th 2012 the Comox Valley Regional District (which is the District where the mine resides) stated:
https://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/article/20121130/COMOX0101/311309951/-1/comox/independent-review-more-studies-of-coal-mine-plan-sought
"the CVRD is "opposed to the further processing of this application (for the mine) until the Province of B.C. conducts comprehensive aquifer mapping of aquifers that could be affected by the mine project.”"
No, this aquifer mapping has not been including in the AIR guidelines, why, no one knows, and so it is not expected to be in the final AIR.
In addition, the CVRD said: "They also want the province to conduct an independent baseline study of the Baynes Sound intertidal and subtidal benthic infauna community adjacent to the proposed mine."
Whether that is included in the AIR is unclear. But again, if it was in the AIR guidelines, then it likely would not be being asked for by the regional government.
More generally one of the City councillors on the Regional Board said:
"And Courtenay Coun. Jon Ambler said the population at large had “grave concerns” about the proposed mine, and there was a nagging feeling that if it did not work out well, someone would be left to sort out the mess. Who might that be? “It will be us,” he suggested."
.....
And whatever economic benefits a mine might generate, it was a short-term project, whereas the sustainable shellfish industry was enduring