BC grants Trans Mountain pipeline environmental approval

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – British Columbia gave its blessing Wednesday to the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline as Premier Christy Clark announced all five conditions her government placed on the project have been met with a financial deal that will help fund environmental protection projects.

Clark said one of the final conditions will see Kinder Morgan Canada provide up to $1 billion to the province over the next 20 years that will go toward a BC Clean Communities Program.

“We fought for these conditions for 4 1/2 years,” she said at a news conference.

Clark’s announcement came after the provincial government granted environmental approval to the expansion of the pipeline earlier in the day.

The federal government gave its approval for Kinder Morgan’s $6.8-billion expansion of the pipeline late last year after the National Energy Board recommended it go ahead if 157 conditions are met.

The expansion would triple the capacity of the existing pipeline, which runs from near Edmonton to Burnaby and is expected to increase tanker traffic seven-fold.

BC’s conditions included world-leading oil spill response and prevention, First Nations participation in the project, a fair share of its economic benefits for the province, and successful environmental reviews.

The project still faces opposition from environmental groups, some mayors of BC communities affected by the pipeline and aboriginal leaders who have threatened legal action to block it.

Shortly before Clark’s announcement, New Democrat Opposition Leader John Horgan said he plans to “use every tool in our tool box” to stop the pipeline expansion.

He held up a small glass jar full with what he said was heavy oil to show how thick and difficult it would be to clean up if there was a spill.

“This is what risk looks like to our coast,” said Horgan.

Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee accused the government of “blatantly” aligning itself against the wishes of its own citizens by granting the environmental approval.

“Right when we need our leadership to stand up to Alberta and Ottawa, they buckle like a cheap lawn chair,” he said in an interview.

“We’ve known all along that the government’s five conditions were political posturing instead of a real assessment of the risks and benefits for BC.” he said in a news release.”British Columbians aren’t stupid. Those conditions were never worth the paper they were written on.”

Ian Anderson, the president of Kinder Morgan Canada, said the deal it negotiated means the company will contribute a minimum of $25 million to a maximum of $50 million a year depending on how much bitumen is transported through the pipeline over its 20-year lifespan.

“We believe this represents a positive outcome for our company, customers and for British Columbians and all Canadians who will benefit from the construction and operation of an expanded pipeline,” he said in a news release.

The company has also agreed to give qualified and competitive companies the first opportunity at jobs for building, operating and maintaining the pipeline.

Anderson said Trans Mountain is planning to begin construction in September.

Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman said in a news release that the energy board has the primary responsibility for ensuring the project is developed, constructed and operated in a safe and secure manner.

BC’s environmental approval comes with 37 conditions on top of the energy board’s requirements, including the consultation of aboriginal groups, the development of a species-at-risk plan, and that a plan is established to mitigate and monitor the impact of the project on grizzly bears.

The provincial government also wants research conducted on the behaviour and cleanup of heavy oils spilled in freshwater and marine aquatic environments to provide spill responders with improved information.

The BC government was required to release its decision on the project by this month to comply with a BC Supreme Court ruling that found the province needed to conduct its own environmental assessment instead of relying on the National Energy Board process.

The minister’s said the province looked where it could improve the project by adding conditions.

“Clearly, the project will have economic benefits for British Columbia workers, families and communities,” they said in the statement. “However, we have always been clear economic development will not come at the expense of the environment. We believe environmental protection and economic development can occur together, and the conditions attached to the (environmental assessment) certificate reflect that.”

Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman issued the following statement: 

“Today we issued an EA Certificate for the project, understanding that all inter-provincial pipelines are under federal jurisdiction. We have looked at areas where we can improve the project by adding conditions that will build upon those already established by the federal government.

“The Environmental Assessment Office recommended 37 new conditions be attached, to address concerns raised by communities and Aboriginal groups during its consultation. We have agreed to all 37 conditions, ensuring the project meets the high standards we demand in British Columbia.

“The conditions we have attached will make sure ongoing consultation with First Nations occurs and also provides further protection of wetlands, wildlife habitat and caribou and grizzly populations. They are all legally enforceable, and will help to minimize or avoid altogether potential issues within areas of provincial interest.

“Clearly, the project will have economic benefits for British Columbia workers, families and communities. However, we have always been clear economic development will not come at the expense of the environment. We believe environmental protection and economic development can occur together, and the conditions attached to the EA certificate reflect that.”

BC’s five conditions set out for Trans Mountain pipeline approval:

1. Successful completion of the environmental review process.

BC initially planned to rely on the National Energy Board’s review of the expansion. The BC Supreme Court ruled last year that the province couldn’t simply depend on federal reviews, and the BC Environmental Assessment Office launched its own review last April.

The province announced Wednesday that it had given environmental approval for the pipeline with 37 conditions.

The energy board recommended last May that the federal government approve the project, subject to 157 environmental, safety and financial conditions.

2. World-leading marine oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems for BC’s coastline and ocean to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy oil pipelines and shipments.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $1.5-billion ocean-protection plan late last year. He said the money will be spent over five years starting in 2017 and includes funding to create a marine-safety system, restore ocean ecosystems, and develop new methods and research to clean up oil spills.

3. World-leading practices for land oil spill prevention, response and recovery systems to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy oil pipelines.

Clark’s government introduced legislation last February to establish a new, “world-leading” spill preparedness and response regime to address environmental emergencies, including land-based spills. The regime includes requirements for spill preparedness, response and recovery and new offences and penalties.

The energy board considered protection of the land and pipeline safety in its review and several of its conditions addressed this issue.

One of the 37 conditions in the BC environmental review is that research be conducted on the behaviour and cleanup of heavy oil spills in fresh water and marine aquatic environments to provide Trans Mountain and spill responders with improved information.

4. Legal requirements regarding aboriginal and treaty rights are addressed, and First Nations are provided with the opportunities, information and resources necessary to participate in and benefit from a project.

Clark indicated late last year that the condition had been met, though several First Nations on BC’s south coast remain adamantly opposed to the project, most notably North Vancouver’s Tsleil-Waututh Nation, which has filed a court challenge against the energy board’s recommendation.

An earlier challenge filed by the nation arguing the Crown had breached its duty to consult was dismissed in September. The Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the First Nation had declined opportunities for consultation leading up to and during the review.

5. British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of a proposed heavy oil project that reflects the level, degree and nature of the risk borne by the province, the environment and taxpayers.

Clark announced Wednesday her government has signed an “unprecedented agreement” with Kinder Morgan to receive up to $1 billion. The company would pay the province between $25 million and $50 million every year for 20 years.

She said all of the revenue would be dedicated to a new BC. Clean Communities Program, allowing communities to apply for grants for projects to protect and enhance the environment.

In 2013, Clark said she had agreed with the Alberta government that none of Alberta’s royalties from oil pipelines would go to BC.

Alberta premier says the approval of Trans Mountain pipeline good for Canada

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the decision to approve the expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline will benefit both provinces.

Notley says the pipeline will help Alberta’s battered economy, create jobs in both provinces and help attract international investment to Canada.

She says there are plenty of people who support the pipeline and some opponents will be won over when they learn about how it will help the economy and how the federal government plans to bolster marine safety.

The premier says she has no problem with Kinder Morgan’s plan to pay BC up to $1 billion over 20 years to share in the revenue from the pipeline, and says the deal was not made at Alberta’s expense.

Notley says she does not believe the payment deal will set a precedent for other proposed pipeline projects such as Energy East.

She says it is good news after years of failure by conservative governments to get a pipeline approved.

“I am very happy. It is good news for Alberta. It is good news for Albertans,” she said.

“We are not out of the woods by any means. There are a lot of difficult times ahead and hard work to do but this is certainly something that of course in the long-term will have measurable benefits in terms of GDP, and jobs and bringing investment.”