Gulf oil spill fuels West Coast tanker fears
Gulf disaster 'raises a lot of additional questions,' minister says
Monday, May 3, 2010
Environmentalists in B.C. say the oil spill off the U.S. coast should serve as a warning about risks the oil and gas industry could pose to the West Coast of Canada.
There are concerns the environmental impact of the ongoing spill from the well of the wrecked Deepwater Horizon drill rig could be worse than the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster that devastated Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989.
Jennifer Lash, director of the Living Oceans Society, says if a proposal to build a crude oil pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific is allowed to go ahead, B.C. will be at risk of a similar disaster.
Enbridge, one of North America's largest oil and gas distribution companies, wants to transport oil from the oilsands to the coast for export. Its proposed Northern Gateway project would run a twin pipeline from near Edmonton to a new marine terminal in Kitimat, B.C., for exporting petroleum and importing condensate.
Lash says that once the oil reaches the coast, it will be moved by tankers which pose a bigger danger to the environment than the oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.
'Clearly the situation in the Gulf of Mexico raises a lot of additional questions.'
—B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner"Apparently oil rigs are safer than tankers. So if oil rigs are safer, and the oil rig down there was the safest, with all the latest bells and whistles, and this is the result of it, then we just need to look at it and say we cannot afford to go down that road," said Lash.
"Accidents happen. The Gulf of Mexico accident is reminding us of this," she said. "And what we need is a permanent ban on oil and gas development and tanker traffic off the coast of B.C."
Provincial Environment Minister Barry Penner said it's premature to compare the situation in the Gulf of Mexico with anything in B.C., and noted that Enbridge hasn't even begun the environmental assessment process yet.
"Our approach here in B.C. has been we would not support any oil and gas development unless it can be done in a safe way," Penner said, adding: "Clearly the situation in the Gulf of Mexico raises a lot of additional questions."
The province is carefully watching the situation in the Gulf of Mexico, Penner said, and an environmental emergency team is standing by to help if needed.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/03/bc-west-coast-oil-tanker-spill.html#ixzz0mt2UIyvM
My sentiments to the Carrier Sekani Peoples and my support in their struggle to protect their environment.A catastrophe such as the Gulf of Mexico oil situation will never be successfully cleaned up or the damage undone! What affects the aboriginal peoples affects all of the rest of the peoples. We must listen to their voice or all the good that has come of reconciliation is for not. Bruce Mclaren Surrey Bc ps I will be sending a similar copy to our MP
ReplyDeleteThe Enbridge Northern Gateway oil pipeline could lead to an environment disaster, true. At this point it seems that the native peoples are the only ones fighting for the rights and futures of all Canadians.
ReplyDeleteAn emphatic NO!! to the pipeline.
There is also another ominous problem, economic reality. The reality is that Canada imports roughly 60% of its crude oil requirements.
If Enbridge can build a pipeline to the Pacific, they can build a pipeline to Ontario to where the oil is needed.
Canada and Canadians first, not oil company profits.