The Vancouver Sun reports in its Thursday edition Metro Vancouver directors will hold what is being billed as the closest thing to a public hearing Friday to hear from the ports and the public ahead of a vote on whether to oppose coal shipment expansion in the Fraser River estuary. The Sun's Kelly Sinoski writes that at least six delegations have already signed up to speak at the 9 a.m. board meeting, which will include a motion by Metro's environment and parks committee to send a "public statement" to Port Metro Vancouver to oppose coal shipments along the Fraser River estuary, other than at the existing Roberts Bank terminal in Delta. Port Metro has applied for air-quality permits for a $200-million expansion at Neptune Bulk Terminals in North Vancouver, as well as a proposal for Fraser Surrey Docks to export thermal coal mined in the Western United States to produce electricity in Asia. Rail connections to the terminal are provided directly by CN, CP, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) and Southern Rail of British Columbia.