Our Pipeline Disagreements, 2018

The following was written by one of the leading members of the Progressive Minded Albertans facebook page:

**Our pipeline controversy.**
Seems to me we have three groups of people. Well, probably four groups but group four is basically unware, uncaring and most likely watching Keeping Up with the Kardasians.
Group One: Deniers of human caused climate change. Want to keep the fossil fuels flowing until they are gone, which they never will be because…?
Group Three: We must stop using fossil fuels now! We need to protect our environment for future generations.
Group Two (sort of smack in the middle): Manmade climate change is real. We have to transition from fossil fuels but it cannot happen overnight as it would decimate our economies.
As you can see, I’m rather dismissive of Group One. Understandably.
Group Two and Three need to talk. We basically share the same idea: the end of fossil fuels. What we do not share is the ‘how’ and the ‘how’ is going to affect us now and in the future, as seen by both sides. So we have to come to a consensus, because our future and the future of our provinces, country and people will depend on it.
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/blair-king/bc-energy-site-c-dam-hydro\_b\_7969110.html
I’ve read many a post from those in BC telling Alberta to ‘get off the oil’ and for us to just ‘stop and transition’. Doing that will crash our economy and result in a sure win for a political party that cares not for the environment and will demolish the many progressive and important changes the current government has made. My province is at stake here, which is frightening. We cannot, and should not, regress. As well, BC has a financial stake here too:
https://www.capp.ca/media/news-releases/british-columbia-top-supplier-to-oil-sands
Will BC be joining us in shutting in all down?:
http://investnortheastbc.ca/sectors/natural-gas
BC exported $17,644.2 million to Alberta in 2014. Not a small amount to lose:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/statistics/business-industry-trade/trade/trade-data
Let’s look at what will be involved with the pipeline and tanker traffic:
“The Port of Vancouver sees about 30 to 50 crude oil tankers per year, out of a total of about 3,160 vessel calls annually. With the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project, this number could increase to about 400 tankers per year, or about 11 per cent of our total vessel traffic. Other ports see far more such traffic. The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands sees about 8,200 tankers each year and Singapore hosts about 22,200 tankers annually.”
“All tankers calling on Vancouver are double-hulled, which means there are two layers of heavy steel protecting their cargo. All tankers are approved for use by reviewing their operating history and current condition. Transport Canada Port State Control monitors every vessel that comes into Canadian waters and can access vessel information including its history and known deficiencies. Further, each petroleum terminal typically conducts its own stringent inspections on all tankers calling the terminal.”
https://www.portvancouver.com/about-us/topics-of-interest/petroleum-products-and-tanker-safety/
Double hulled tankers are now the only ones allowed:
“By law, all tankers in international trade will have double hulls by 2010, with certain non-
double-hull tankers being able to trade to the USA up to 2015. A double hull is essentially a hull within a hull. The cargo is carried inside the inner hull with a space dividing it from the outer hull. The cargo space is protected from the environment by the double hull, which consists of a double-side and double-bottom space dedicated to the carriage of ballast.”
https://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/documents\_staticpost/cearref\_21799/2559/section3\_09.pdf

Tankers are not new to the West coast:
“Tanker statistics on the West Coast
Oil tankers have been moving along Canada's West Coast since the 1930s.
In 2015, there were about 197,513 departures and arrivals of vessels at West Coast ports. Tankers accounted for about 1487 of them, or 0.75 per cent.
Oil is moved mostly via the following ports:
Vancouver
Prince Rupert
Kitimat
Much of the oil shipped out of Vancouver is transported to and from communities on the B.C. coast. Oil is carried by barges, container ships, ferries, and other types of commercial and private vessels.”
“Oil spill statistics in Canada
The largest oil spill in Canada occurred off the East Coast in 1970. The tanker M/T Arrow spilled over 10,000 tonnes of oil off Nova Scotia. This is about one quarter the amount spilled in US waters by the Exxon Valdez in 1989.
The West Coast's largest spill was 240 tonnes, caused by the sinking of the ferry M/V The Queen of the North in 2006. In 1988, the Nestucca oil barge spilled 87 tonnes of oil off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
In 2015, the M/V Marathassa was reported to have spilled fuel oil in Vancouver's English Bay. Read the independent review for more information.”
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/facts-oil-tanker-safety-canada-4513.html#west-coast
We have regulations for tankers:
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp11710-menu-2249.htm

We also have regulations for pipelines:
“Companies must also develop, review and update emergency procedures manuals, and submit these manuals to the NEB. The regulator requires key emergency response information to be made public and has ordered all pipelines companies to publish their emergency procedures manuals on their websites by the end of September 2016.”
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/infrastructure/pipeline-safety-regime/16440
“KML’s current EMP includes the following emergency response plans (ERPs). The plans are location specific and cover all current operations for the pipeline and associated facilities as outlined on the map below. The ERPs also identify locations of emergency response materials and equipment, are regularly practiced through field deployment and are constantly being updated to keep them current. To learn more about how the ERPs are being enhanced to accommodate the Trans Mountain Expansion Project click here.”
https://www.kindermorgan.com/pages/pipelinesafety/emergency\_response\_plans.aspx
We have laws:
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2015\_21/page-1.html
And finally:
“The question for environmentalists is whether continued intransigent opposition to any and all fossil fuel infrastructure is the best strategy moving forward. I contend that the time for intransigence has passed and a more collaborative approach is warranted. The oil industry and government of Alberta has shown it is willing to work to reduce emissions. All they ask is for full value for their product. That is, I believe, a bargain worth making for a number of reasons.”
“Climate change is a serious threat and should be treated as such. Whether the Trans Mountain pipeline gets built or not will have little impact on climate change. What is needed is coordinated, global reductions in emissions from around the globe. But first we need to coordinate ourselves. This will only be accomplished by working together and the pipeline debates detract rather than contribute to that end. Let’s stop focusing on one pipeline, we really have much bigger fish to fry.”
http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/its-time-for-environmentalists-to-move-on-from-the-trans-mountain-pipeline/

author: Geoff Salomons
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/geoff-salomons-66007327
We have to hold all governments to high standards and scrutiny, as well as all corporations. We can construct this pipeline and ship with stringent regulations, oversight and laws. We can transition if we have the will and the financial wherewithal. Alberta has a government in place that will continue to progress to the end of fossil fuel reliance, if they are given the chance. The alternative is a nightmare.