Dear Editor:
On page 5 of your May 27 edition, Kinder Morgan representative Ali Hounsell defends their oil transportation safety record. I would remind readers of the 2007 rupture of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline in Burnaby that resulted in 234,000 litres of crude oil flowing into Burrard Inlet. Beaches at Cates Park and the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats were oiled.
Two hundred and fifty residents were evacuated.
Kinder Morgan is correct in saying that, fortunately, there have been no oil tanker accidents to date in our harbour. In their application to expand the pipeline, however, they state that there is “an expected incident every 64 years per tanker” with 79 per cent of all incidents categorized as “serious or total loss” (TERMPOL 3.8 - Casualty Data Survey).
If this project proceeds, there will be 34 loaded oil tankers per month going to and from Westridge Marine Terminal, up from the current five per month. Each tanker is longer than 2.4 football fields (245 metres).
North Shore NOPE (No Pipeline Expansion) prepared a 30-page summary of oil spill accidents worldwide in harbours comparable to Vancouver from 1990 to 2015. This report was part of our submission as intervenors to the National Energy Board hearings.
Despite the use of double-hulled tankers, pilots on board and tugs assisting, accidents still have happened with devastating consequences for the health of residents and the marine ecosystem. The risk is unacceptable.
Virginia Tupper, North Shore NOPE volunteer
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