Kinder Morgan maps show potential spread of oil spill in Burnaby

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      Buried in the mountain of documents filed by Kinder Morgan with the National Energy Board as part of its application to twin the Trans Mountain oil pipeline are several maps like the one above.

      They show the potential spread of oil in a "credible worse case" spill of 160 cubic metres due to a loading incident at the Westridge Terminal in Burnaby.

      The technical report, prepared by Stantec Consulting Ltd. for Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC, states: "For this scenario, there is a high to very high probability of water surface oiling and/or shoreline oiling at the confluence of Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet and a low probability of water surface oiling and/or shoreline oiling from a single individual crude oil spill to reach farther into Indian Arm and towards Port Moody, as well as west past Second Narrows."

      According to this report, such an oil spill would result in a "high probability of oiling" near the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation's Burrard Inlet 3 and the Squamish First Nation's Seymour Creek 2 reserves.

      The worst impacts on fish and marine habitat would occur around the confluence of Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet. The report states that seabirds and marine mammals would likely be "harmed" by a credible worse case spill but the numbers would be "low".

      "Animals like otters would be most at risk, with lower potential for mortality of harbour porpoise and harbour seals. Exposure of other whales and pinnipeds is unlikely due to the low frequency of their presence in Burrard Inlet. At the population level, lost individuals would likely be compensated for by natural processes within one to two years," the report states.

      You can read much more in the report: Ecological Risk Assessment of Westridge Marine Terminal Spills.

      Comments

      2 Comments

      David B

      Jan 31, 2014 at 12:17am

      Perhaps pollution will eventually help to kill people off. Would the perpetrators then be guilty of manslaughter?

      carl shalansky

      Jan 31, 2014 at 6:23am

      The recent news story (in the Vancouver Sun)about the 'Big One'--the 9.0 Richter scale quake that was discussed makes me wonder ?? Would Kinder Morgan like to tell us what plans they have for their old storage tanks on Burnaby Mountain--any upgrades or changes to dyking or additions conntainment facilities.No doubt the new tanks proposed will be up to date in design..The neighbours living below these storage tanks likely are interested? Should these tanks fail during an earthquake please show us the path for the 'spilt' oil !And just for the record--how much oil will be stored at this tank farm site ?