Potash export facility

About BHP

BHP Billiton Canada Inc. (BHP) is a leading global resources company with assets and projects in iron ore, petroleum, copper and coal. BHP proposes to construct a potash export facility at Fraser Surrey Docks in Surrey, B.C. to export potash from the proposed Jansen mine in Saskatchewan.

Subject to regulatory and internal approvals, BHP would design and construct an export facility to receive and store rail shipments of potash and load onto bulk ocean-going vessels.

Additional information about the company is available on BHP’s corporate website and additional information about the Jansen mine can be found here.

What is Potash?

Potash, technically known as potassium chloride (KCI), is a naturally occurring mineral salt and a key ingredient in agricultural fertilizer, including common household garden fertilizers. Potash is non-flammable, non-combustible and is considered non-toxic to aquatic species. Similar to table salt, potash is mildly corrosive to metals, and is water-soluble so requires a dry location for storage. The world’s largest known reserves of potash are located in Saskatchewan, Canada. Potash is processed into solid particles that are approximately 3/16 inch (4 millimeters) in size and range from pink to red in colour.

Canada exports potash to countries like the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, China and India. About 95 per cent of potash consumption is for use in fertilizers, the remaining 5 per cent is used in a variety of chemical and manufactured products. Potash is a major contributor to improving crop yields and resilience and helps to feed the growing global population.

Potash is classified as a Group C Non-Hazardous Good as designated by International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes.

About the project

The 29-ha site is located entirely on Fraser Surrey Docks property. The proposed facility, with a throughput of up to 8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), will:

Receive shipments of product by rail from the proposed Jansen mine
Offload product from rail cars to the conveyor system
Store potash in the storage building
Transfer product from the potash storage building via the conveyors to the ship loader and to a waiting vessel for export

When the facility throughput reaches the projected 8 Mtpa, 8 to 10 trains per week are expected. Three to four vessels will load at the facility per week ranging from Handysize up to Kamsarmax , similar to vessels that already frequent the existing terminal.

Proposed potash export facility

To develop the new facility, the following site preparation and construction activities are planned.

Site Preparation:

Remove existing structures and asphalt within building footprints. Demolition will include the building southeast of Shed 4, the container truck gate, the diesel shop and a portion of Shed 5.
Relocation of some existing utilities on site
Ground improvements including stone columns and preload using clean fill

Construction:

Covered rail car unloading facility including dust collection units
Rail loop and access improvements
Fully enclosed product storage building (471m long by 63m wide and 40m high), including materials handling and transfer equipment
Cascading style travelling ship loader to minimize dust and maintain product quality
Berth improvements
Necessary utility relocation
Extensions to off-site rail tracks

Potash Export Facility rendering

We have submitted our permit application to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and it is now under review. We invite interested parties to ask questions and provide feedback on our application. Application documents are also posted on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority website. The Application Review public comment period will run from 28 June to 27 July 2018.

As part of the permit application, technical studies were undertaken. To read our application and technical study documents visit our digital information room:

Engineering studies

Hazardous materials report for demolition
- Inventory of all hazardous materials currently stored on-site
- Asbestos and other materials surveys and planning
Geotechnical Report
- Project-specific seismic and geologic hazards
- Design requirements to meet national standards based on identified risks
Marine Structures
- Site plan specific to proposed marine works, load and seismic requirements
Energy Efficiency & BATNEC report
- Assessment of Project effects to electrical energy consumption levels
- Summary of the Best Available Technology Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEC) for the proposed Project

Environmental assessment studies

Lighting
- Review and define lighting requirements consistent with the port authority’s lighting guidelines, WorkSafeBC and Illuminating Engineering Society
- Light level readings
Noise
- Baseline noise monitoring
- Computer modeling
- Future and construction noise prediction
- Noise assessment
- Mitigation measures for construction and operation
Air Quality
- Level 1 Emission Inventory
- Level 2 Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling
- Air assessment for Project operations
- Mitigation measures for construction and operation
View and Shade
- Desktop study of base information and guidelines
- Selected viewpoints of the site and developed photo simulations
- Assessed potential view effects
- Modeled shade impacts from the proposed Project at various times of day and year
Traffic Impact
- Current and anticipated site traffic (road and rail) and how they will interact on site
- On-site road traffic circulation
- Site-generated traffic distribution throughout the day and impacts to adjacent and nearby roads and crossings
- An access/egress and storage analysis for vehicles accessing site including parking requirements
- Emergency access
- Traffic impacts and mitigation options
Archaeology and Heritage Resources
- Assess potential for archaeological resources in the Project area
- Visual surface and drill core inspection
- Archaeological Overview Assessment
- Archaeological Potential Preliminary Assessment
- Chance find procedure
Flood Protection
- Flood risk assessment for site infrastructure
- Potential flood mitigation options
Habitat Assessment
- Habitat assessments and mitigation for potential effects:
  - Fish and fish habitat
  - Terrestrial ecosystems and vegetation
  - Wildlife
  - Species at risk
  - Invasive species

Project plans

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
- Project overview and site inventory including site activities and materials which may affect stormwater
- Hydrological assessment
Construction Environmental Management Plan
- Site environmental management during construction to avoid or minimize potential adverse effects including mitigation measures
- Will include consideration for nesting birds
Soil and Groundwater Management Plan
- Site background, history of use, and a summary of existing soil and groundwater conditions at the site
- Management procedures that will be put in place during excavation work if contamination is identified
Rail Operations Plan
- Expected rail operations and interactions with other traffic on site
Marine Traffic Information Requirements Report
- Vessel drafts and capacities
- Vessel traffic, anchorage and utilization and operational procedures
Fire Safety Plan
- Employee safety education and compliance with regulations
- Identify potential hazards and procedures in the event of an emergency
Spill Prevention and Emergency Response Plan
- Measures to avoid spills
- Contingency response planning and risk identification
Contaminated Sites Assessment
- Phase 2 environmental site assessment

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s website provides information about the Project and Environmental Review Process, and technical guidelines for the above studies.