Mayor wants Vancouver to seek intervenor status at Kinder Morgan pipeline hearings

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      Vancouver is looking at seeking intervenor status at National Energy Board hearings on Kinder Morgan's proposed expansion of the TransMountain pipeline.

      Mayor Gregor Robertson tabled a motion proposing the action today (December 4), following a report from deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston on the potential impacts of increased oil tankers in region.

      Kinder Morgan is expected to submit its formal application to the National Energy Board this month to twin its pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby.

      According to the deputy city manager's presentation to council, the current capacity for response to an oil spill in the region is "uncoordinated, insufficient, and untested", and municipal and regional emergency planners "do not have adequate information to develop response plans and ensure public safety".

      "We believe...that there is currently an inadequate response capacity in this region to even the amount of oil that's moving through this region right now," Johnston told council.

      "We believe that the emergency municipal [and] regional planners don't have adequate information to develop response plans and ensure public safety, and we believe that the recovery funding regime is insufficient to cover the costs of even a moderate spill."

      The proposed pipeline expansion route does not pass through Vancouver, but Johnston noted that the increased tanker traffic would travel through the Burrard Inlet.

      Kinder Morgan's expansion proposal would see the capacity of the pipeline increased from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day. Oil tanker traffic would increase from five ships to 34 per month.

      Johnston said a major oil spill in the area would have "a profoundly negative impact" on the city's residents and businesses.

      He outlined both direct and indirect costs associated with a potential spill, including environmental remediation, emergency response, health-care and litigation costs, and loss of workforce and productivity.

      "Significant parts of our economy could be impacted," he noted, citing examples including tourism, the retail sector, hotels, and the film industry.

      Roberton's motion cites an "unacceptable risk" to the City of Vancouver associated with the proposed pipeline expansion and increased tanker traffic through the Metro Vancouver area, including risks to the region's economy, local environment and infrastructure.

      The mayor's motion will be debated at a committee meeting on December 18.

      The National Energy Board hearings on the application are expected to take place in the third quarter of 2014.

      Comments

      2 Comments

      WTF

      Dec 5, 2013 at 9:19am

      Take it to Court.

      1. This benefits SOLELY Big Oil & Communist China,

      2. BC has not yet got a Contract for ANY Revenue share, Think Norway which keeps 85%+ of it's Oil & Gas revenues

      3. BC Residents & Citizens get Nothing but more Risk Note: NO Revenue Share has been agreed too,

      4. For all the OIL in the World Alberta is running a serious Structural Deficit because they are too stupid to...

      (i) Get a Norway style Revenue Share on Oil & Gas, instead give the Oil away from the TAR SANDS, pricing the pitiful Royalty they charge on the price of Bitumen not Crude prices = STUPID

      (ii) Believe in the rigid ideology of the Cons for Big Oil Corporate Welfare,

      (iii) are too stupid to Refine & Value Add before shipping out Heavy Crude / Bitumen to Communist China.

      5. This Shit runs right by Gregor's House in Pt. Grey / Kits :)

      SPY vs SPY

      Dec 5, 2013 at 9:45am

      If only Mayor Robertson could be trusted. This sounds like Political Posturing - Just like Christy Clark's - I'm against the Pipeline before the election and I'm for the Pipeline after the election.

      After witnessing all the Bullshit about the Cornwal - Point Grey Bike lanes and "The Removal of the Dunsmuir and Georgia Street Viaducts - I do not trust in ONE WORD - Double Vision Vancouver says!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1