January 28, 2009
Salmon coalition turns sight on Enbridge pipeline
Houston Today
A coalition behind the campaign against fish farms on B.C.‘s North Coast has called for a full public inquiry into the proposed Enbridge pipelines project.
The Friends of Wild Salmon (FOWS) group said in a press release issued last week that in addition to what they call serious issues related to the pipelines themselves, the inquiry must also address tanker traffic and the tar sands expansion that will feed the pipeline.
“The assessment process for the pipelines cannot ignore the environmental impacts of what goes on at either end,” Des Nobels, FOWS chair, said. “Coastal residents raised serious concerns about the risk of oil spills on the North Coast, and citizens across Canada are voicing concern about the Alberta tar sands.”
In December, Enbridge hosted an open house in Houston to assuage what they called misconceptions about the project.
“Each community has localized issues,” Steve Greenaway, vice-president of public and government affairs for Enbridge told Houston Today in December.
“I think there might be more misconceptions in B.C. than Alberta because they [Albertans] deal with pipelines all the time. I am sure there are some people [in Houston] who think the pipeline will be above ground, kind of like a ’60s model, so we are here to educate and listen to people’s concerns.”
Enbridge had promised to return to Houston to hold additional meetings this month, specifically with Frank and Sofia Ebermann, who will have the pipeline half a kilometre from their Buck Flats Road property.
FOWS join not only potentially impacted property owners but also some 52 First Nations along the Northern Gateway Pipeline route, who have called for an independent review in addition to the joint review panel already proposed.
“Regulators are not respecting the fact that we have a responsibility to protect our ancestral territories, rights, title and interests,” David de Wit, Natural Resources Manager at the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, said. “Gateway is a major project with significant risks. Yet the federal government is advancing a decision-making process for Gateway without any provision for addressing Aboriginal Rights and Title. This is unacceptable.”
The 1,170-kilometre pipeline would run from Kitimat to Bruderheim, Alberta – just outside Edmonton.
The pipeline would send oil to Kitimat to be loaded in tankers before heading to California and Asia. Condensate, a chemical used in the treatment of oil for transport would be imported through Kitimat and piped to customers in Edmonton.
The proposed route for the project would follow Highway 37 north from Kitimat before veering east passing north of Burns Lake, south of Fort St. James and, north of Bear Lake before heading into Alberta.
Enbridge has proposed a profit sharing plan with the 50 First Nation group that have territory along the pipeline.
“Northern Gateway is committed to working with First Nations and the federal government on our project application and review process,” Steve Greenaway, vice-president of public and government affairs for Enbridge said. “We are legally obligated to follow the regulatory process that has been put in place by the federal government, on behalf of the Crown. And part of that process is significant Aboriginal engagement on our part. In 2008, we have held over 200 meetings with First Nations and M tis Associations along our proposed pipeline corridor and have signed 16 Protocol Agreements with more expected this month.”
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen told the Houston Today that he was doubtful about the proposed profit sharing plan.
“I have never known an energy company to pay out equity without a significant cost to the other party,” he said.
Cullen added that Enbridge’s plan to get all First Nations groups along the length of the project on-side, seemed a daunting task.
FOWS has also joined the call for a separate and independent review.
“The joint review panel proposed by the federal government is not equipped to address the serious concerns regarding tar sands expansion and tanker traffic,” added Friends of Wild Salmon steering committee member Gerald Amos. “We believe Skeena residents – and all Canadians – deserve a public inquiry into the full scope of the project.”
“Our work on fish farms and coalbed methane has shown that residents of the Skeena Watershed have a strong sense of what is important for our local economy and cultures,” said FOWS coordinator, Pat Moss. “There is very little appetite for industrial development that puts wild salmon at risk in our rivers or our ocean.”
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