BC seeks spill prevention, response info for Trans Mountain Pipeline

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The province wants more information about spill prevention and response times when it comes to the proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project.

It has submitted 70 requests for more information. Environment Minister Mary Polak says the province wants to know more about the company’s oil spill prevention, response and recovery plans.

BC questions Kinder Morgan on Trans Mountain spill prevention, response regime

But NDP Environment Critic Spencer Chandra Herbert isn’t sure it’s the right approach.

“What we need to do is get some really clear answers here and that’s going to take grilling at the National Energy Board because that’s the only process left to us,” he explains.

“I think Christy Clark has sold us out here and given a free pass for Stephen Harper to make whatever decision he decides around Kinder Morgan in the long run and that’s not in the best interest of BC and that’s why we should have our own process,” Adds Chandra Herbert. “My issue here is that even if the province says no like they did with Enbridge, the federal government can still say yes and make it happen.”

The $5-billion expansion would almost triple the capacity of the pipeline through central B.C. that links the Alberta oil sands to Port Metro Vancouver.

Like the Northern Gateway proposal through northern B.C., the Trans Mountain project faces staunch opposition from environmental groups and several First Nations.

Also like the Northern Gateway, the province says the pipeline must meet five conditions, including an undefined “world-leading” oil spill regime.

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