Five Anglican parishes near the Chevron refinery in North Burnaby, B.C., diocese of New Westminster, are involved in a multi-church coalition opposing Chevron?s plan to increase the emission of sulphur oxides and fine particulates into the atmosphere.
The group includes 13 congregations from five denominations. The coalition has met with staff of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and presented a petition signed by 641 church members. Renovations to the Burnaby refinery are underway so that Chevron can produce gasoline with a lower sulphur content, required by 2005 by the federal government. The downside to reducing sulphur in the gasoline could be some increase in refinery outputs of sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter.