Canadian Pipeline Expansion Threatens Salish Sea

County Urged to Seek Intervenor Status by the San Juans Alliance

— from the San Juans Alliance —

In December the pipeline company Kinder Morgan finally submitted a long-anticipated proposal for expansion of its Trans Mountain Pipeline from Alberta to Vancouver, BC. As this project will have a major impact on tanker shipments of oil, particularly diluted bitumen or “dilbit,” through Haro Strait, local environmental groups are urging County Councilors make sure our interests can be represented in the Canadian government’s review process on this project.

There are substantial environmental and economic impacts associated with spills of diluted bitumen, even more so than conventional (or even synthetic) crude. In 2007, a spill of diluted bitumen in the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, created a public health emergency and the clean-up is not yet complete with the cost to date, as of last summer, nearing $1 billion.

In a letter of January 22, 2014, to the Council, the San Juans Alliance — a coalition of Lopez NO COALition, Orcas NO COALition, San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping, and Friends of the San Juans — outlined the issues at stake and urged the Council to apply for “intervenor” status in this process. Council members are considering this request this week.

Excerpts from the San Juans Alliance letter are included below:

“To ensure that San Juan County’s economic and environmental interests are addressed in the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project application review process, we are writing to request that the Council apply for intervenor status to Canada’s National Energy Board.

“On December 16, 2013, Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (Trans Mountain) operated by Kinder Morgan Canada and owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., filed …for authorization to build and operate facilities for the company’s proposed Trans Mountain expansion project… to expand its pipeline capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day. For years, Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline has been pumping Alberta tar sands crude to the terminal in Burnaby, British Columbia (just outside Vancouver) and four northern refineries in Washington State.

“Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion project will result in a major increase in the number of oil tankers navigating the marine waterways of San Juan County. Kinder Morgan estimates that in 2010, 71 tankers docked at the Westridge Terminal. By 2016, the company plans to have 400 tankers per year docking at the terminal.

“Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) is the federal regulatory agency charged with reviewing this project application. … Ultimately, the NEB will recommend to the federal Cabinet whether the project should be approved; the decision lies with the Cabinet.

“Although the pipeline itself rests solely on Canadian soil, the project, with its substantial increase in oil tanker traffic, will have a direct impact on San Juan County, [and] will have potential adverse impacts to the Southern Resident Killer Whales, Chinook salmon, and other marine inhabitants from exposure to chronic vessel noise and physical disturbance. [There are numerous] issues of concern related to the increased risk of a major oil spill [as well].

“A motion to intervene, if granted, would allow San Juan County to participate as a party in the proceedings. …As a party in the proceedings, San Juan County would be able to introduce evidence…. Such evidence is also necessary to shape mitigation that may be required (such as tug escorts; limitations on numbers of tankers; spill response equipment, training, and personnel; etc.) if the project is ultimately approved by the Canadian Cabinet.

“We urge you to take this opportunity to participate as an intervenor in the NEB’s review of the Trans Mountain expansion project application and thereby ensure that San Juan County’s interests are addressed and protected. Please note that the deadline to apply with the NEB for intervenor status is February 12th.”