Dear editor, I read the letter from Comox resident Del Ferguson (Record, April 11) with great interest.Mr. Ferguson supports the Raven Coal mine because he believes it is in the interests of our region for "long-term" sustainability of the economy and environment, as a result of the government wealth he claims will be derived from this industry. He states that the organized opposition from Coal Watch and Comox Valley Water Watch is merely rhetoric that is "poorly researched." He also believes that the environmental review process is rigorous and sometimes "over the top" in a way that should make us all "proud."Mr. Ferguson may be lacking in research on the subject himself. What he and many Comox Valley residents are not aware of, is that the coal mined at the Raven Mine would not produce a single dollar of royalties to the provincial treasury.The mineral rights and the land on top of it are owned "fee simple" by Compliance Coal, the owner of the mine, and as such pay no provincial mineral royalties. As well, the aquifers that are the source of drinking water for local residents have never been mapped. I recommend that he research these facts to his own satisfaction.In regard to his suggestion of long-term economic and environmental sustainability, the Raven Mine claims it has plans to be open for between 16 and 20 years, hardly a long-term proposition. Many of the skilled mining jobs are slated to be filled by trained immigrant labour, as we do not currently have sufficient capacity locally to fill those jobs.Raven Coal Mine plans to "mitigate" the destruction of the Cowie Creek/Tsable River watershed and habitat, by investing in habitat enhancements elsewhere. They say nothing of the shellfish industry destruction just beneath the mine site, or the hundreds of jobs that are threatened there and the loss of revenue to the companies operating there.And finally, in regard to Mr. Ferguson's assertion that we have a strong environmental review process, I would only point out that in the entire history of the environmental review process in Canada, only one mine has ever been declined a permit.And he can research that fact too for his own verification. I really hope he does. Then maybe he'll join the rest of us who stand in solidarity against this egregious mine proposal.Keith Porteous,Denman Island
