The Council of Canadians Chilliwack chapter.
The Council of Canadians Chilliwack chapter participated in two WaterWealth Project-organized ‘happy hour’ gatherings – on April 28 and April 29 – to encourage people to make submissions to the National Energy Board calling for a significant route change for the 890,000 barrel per day Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline.
Chapter activist Suzy Coulter shared promotion for the gatherings on the chapter’s email contact list: “Concerned about the proposed location of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline? The route is NOT finalized, and we can let the National Energy Board know that we want the pipeline moved away from Chilliwack’s schools, wetlands, fault lines, homes, and drinking water! We have until May 7th to do so.”
On May 6, Coulter told us, “The Happy Hours have been a huge success, hundreds of statements of opposition have been sent.”
Now Reuters reports, “Canada’s National Energy Board will hold a series of public hearings beginning this year to determine the route for Kinder Morgan Inc’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, the regulator said on Thursday [August 31]. …While the expansion is federally approved, the NEB could force Kinder Morgan to tweak its route or impose further conditions, the regulator’s chief environment officer, Rob Steedman, said in an interview.”
The article notes, “The NEB announced the route hearings after Kinder Morgan’s planned path received 452 statements of opposition. The route hearings, some of which are scheduled for next year, could last weeks, although they do not have firm dates for conclusion or for when the NEB needs to render decisions, according to the regulator.”
Global News highlights, “The NEB has also announced a second set of hearings related to a proposed route change through Chilliwack. Those hearings, slated for early 2018, relate to Trans Mountain’s application to have a piece of the route through the Chilliwack area moved from a B.C. Hydro right of way to the Trans Mountain Pipeline’s existing right of way.”
That article also notes, “Detailed route hearings allow property owners on, or in proximity to, the line to voice objections to the specific location of the proposed route, or methods or timing of construction. They can result in minor changes, but cannot challenge whether the project is in the public interest or where the corridor is.”
The Canadian Press notes, “Hearings will be held in Spruce Grove, Edson and Hinton in November and December on the first two segments of the pipeline through Alberta.” No date has been set for the hearings in B.C. other than early 2018. Applications to participate in the hearing are open until September 21.
#StopKM
Further reading
Chilliwack chapter raises questions about Nestle’s dealings with Kinder Morgan (April 2017)
