EDRF grants support bog and estuary defenders, coal mine opponents

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West Coast Environmental Law is pleased to announce grants to protect the health of British Columbians and our environment to 3 environmental groups through West Coast’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF):

• Coalwatch Comox Valley - To hire Victoria lawyer, Carly Chunick of Devlin Gailus, to assist in understanding legal issues surrounding the environmental assessment of the proposed Raven Underground Coal Project.  This is the first grant Coalwatch has received from the EDRF. 
• Wetland Alliance: The Ecological Response (WA:TER)and Neskonlith Indian Band - To hire lawyer Nicole Schabus, of Tessmer Law Offices in Kelowna, to examine legal options to ensure that the SmartCentres development (which we think includes a new Walmart) proposed in Salmon Arm does not compromise salmon habitat. This is the third grant WA:TER has received from the EDRF, and the first for the Neskonlith Band. 
• Burns Bog Conservation Society – To hire James Straith, a West Vancouver lawyer, to examine whether the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in the Red Chris Mine case affects the legal validity of the environmental assessment conducted in relation to the South Fraser Perimeter Road.  This is the first grant provided by the EDRF to the Burns Bog Conservation Society in relation to this issue, although the EDRF has played an active role in the past in the protection of the Bog. 

The EDRF grants will provide funds to these groups to pay their lawyers at a partially pro-bono rate of $80/hour. Congratulations to these groups, and thank you to them and the lawyers for taking on these causes.  We look forward to working with you to protect the environment. 

Click here for more information on EDRF grants and victories over the past 20 years.