More than 50 Squamish Nation protesters and supporters marched down Capilano Road south of Marine Drive Thursday to demonstrate outside Kinder Morgan’s Vancouver Wharves facility on the North Vancouver waterfront.
The protest was initially planned to coincide with a public information meeting, scheduled for Thursday night at the Grouse Inn on Capilano Road, about Kinder Morgan’s proposal to expand the diesel capabilities at their North Vancouver facility on West First Street.
The public meeting has since been postponed, but the protest went ahead.
“We need to save our Mother Earth ... our clean air and water,” said Nation member and rally organizer Clarissa Antone. “We Squamish members do care about what goes on.”
Antone said many Nation members also object to the lack of First Nation consultation on the project.
Kinder Morgan’s proposal for the North Vancouver site would include two additional diesel bulk storage tanks at the facility, one 80,000-barrel storage tank approximately 18.3 metres high and a 120,000-barrel storage tank approximately 19.8 metres high, according to the company.
As well, Kinder Morgan plans on increasing the existing 12-railcar rack to accommodate 12 additional railcar unloading positions, and related infrastructure to a maximum of 36 railcars per day, up from the current 24 and expanding and upgrading the fire protection and firefighting systems, wastewater management systems and related infrastructure.
The company issued a statement in response on Friday.
“Vancouver Wharves looks forward to engaging with our North Shore neighbours about this project to answer questions and provide information about the additional safety and economic benefits it will bring,” the statement read. “Our proposed diesel facility expansion project will allow the terminal, which has been operating for more than 50 years, to maximize the usage of the existing facility and fulfill a request for more capacity and construct two additional diesel storage tanks. We respect the right to peaceful demonstration.”
The project has a capital budget of $32 million. It will require development permits from the District of North Vancouver but not a rezoning.
It was the first rally that Antone organized, but it won’t be her last, she told The Squamish Chief newspaper. “It was a very good rally and I really appreciate Nation members who showed up,” she said.
Antone said she was grateful for the help organizers received from the RCMP who helped with logistics for the rally.
