Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC says it will be able to satisfy the B.C. government’s five conditions for supporting a heavy oil pipeline project in the province and that it is confident it can do this by the time the regulatory process for its proposed expansion is complete.
The company was responding to B.C.’s final argument filed with the National Energy Board in which the government indicated it could not support the project at this time because it did not have enough information on Trans Mountain’s proposed spill prevention and response, based on information submitted to the board.
Trans Mountain, however, said that through continued discussions with the province, along with the final steps of the NEB process that already include 150 draft conditions that the company must meet, it believes it will be able to meet B.C.’s demands.
It noted that it has been working closely with the province to discuss and demonstrate its commitment to meeting the five conditions and believes much progress has been made.
Trans Mountain also pointed out that the conditions include several requirements that Trans Mountain alone cannot satisfy. For example, the conditions related to world-leading marine oil spill response, recovery and prevention, addressing Aboriginal treaty rights and B.C. receiving its “fair share” are all conditions that require multiple parties to come to the table and work together, said the company.
The City of Vancouver has also expressed its support of the B.C. government’s decision to oppose the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.
“A seven-fold increase in oil tanker traffic through Vancouver’s local waters is simply not worth the immense risks posed to our economy and environment in the event of a major oil spill,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said in January 11 press release.
“Powered by our most innovative sectors, the Conference Board of Canada has forecast that Vancouver’s economy will continue to lead the nation in economic growth through to 2019. We cannot afford to support a proposal that could put that growth in jeopardy.”
If the US$5.4 billion expansion project is approved by the NEB, Trans Mountain said it is confident that the construction and long-term operation will be done to the highest standards of environmental performance, will support Aboriginal communities and provide lasting benefits for British Columbians, Albertans and Canadians.
A recent report by the Conference Board of Canada found that the expansion is expected to generate $46.7 billion in government revenues and 802,000 person years of employment over more than 20 years, Trans Mountain pointed out.
In December 2015, the company filed its final argument with the NEB. The argument summarized the thousands of pages of evidence presented and the culmination of more than three years of environmental and technical studies, engineering and design work, as well as engagement with communities, stakeholders, landowners and Aboriginal groups.
