by KORIE MARSHALL
BC’s provincial government has formally announced it cannot support the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The Province says Kinder Morgan has not yet provided enough information on its spill prevention and response plan, one of the five requirements the province established in 2012.
The province says the requirements must be in place for any new heavy-oil pipeline to receive provincial support: completion of the environmental revieThe Province says Kinder Morgan has not yet provided enough information on its spill prevention and response plan, one of the five requirements the province established in 2012.w process, “world-leading” marine and land oil spill response and prevention plans, and a fair-share of fiscal and economic benefits for BC and Indigenous people.
In a news release from the provincial government on Jan. 11th, the province says the company has not provided enough information around its proposed spill prevention and response to determine if it would be world-leading. “Because of this the Province is unable to support the project at this time, based on the evidence submitted,” says the news release.
In its own news release, Kinder Morgan says they are committed to working to meet the province’s five conditions, and they are confident the work ahead will satisfy the province.
The release says Trans Mountain alone cannot satisfy some of the province’s conditions. “The conditions related to world-leading marine oil spill response, recovery and prevention, addressing Aboriginal treaty rights and BC receiving its “fair share” are all conditions that require multiple parties to come to the table and work together,” says the release.
It says Trans Mountain is confident continued discussions with the province, along with the final steps of the NEB process which already includes 150 draft conditions, will satisfy BC’s five conditions by the time the regulatory process is complete.
The province’s release says the government has submitted its final written submission to the National Energy Board (NEB), saying it will continue to evaluate the project based on the company’s ability to meet the requirements.
