THE chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation says his band is adamantly opposed to Kinder Morgans plan to dramatically increase the volume of oil being shipped by tanker through Burrard Inlet.
We believe its not a matter of if, its a matter of when an accident occurs, said Justin George, elected chief of the Tsleil-Waututh, whose territory in North Vancouver lies directly across Burrard Inlet from the companys Westridge port facility in Burnaby.
What Kinder Morgan is proposing is that Vancouver becomes an oil port city, said George.
Weve been clear in our opposition, he said. The environmental risks associated with it are way too high.
George made his comments after Kinder Morgan announced plans last week to dramatically increase its export of crude oil from Alberta to 850,000 barrels a day from the current 300,000. That would require the twinning of its pipeline from Edmonton to the Lower Mainland.
The proposed expansion could mean tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet would jump to 365 tankers a year from about 70 currently.
But George said his band feels strongly that most residents of the Lower Mainland and North Shore arent in favour of the project.
George said there are few economic benefits for anyone locally those are going to the Alberta tar sands, China and the shareholders of Kinder Morgan, he said.
But local residents, including the Tsleil-Waututh, will be asked to bear all the risks.
George said disaster response in the event of an oil spill is limited at best, noting that when the Kinder Morgan pipeline was punctured in Burnaby in 2007, some of the 234,000 litres of oil spilled into Burrard Inlet and washed up on the shores of Cates Park and Maplewood Flats.
We are deeply rooted and connected to Burrard Inlet. Its the heart of who we are as a people, said George. Theyre putting us at a huge risk for accidents.
Kinder Morgan announced last week it plans to consult with local communities and First Nations about the proposed $5 billion expansion over the next 18 to 24 months. The company would ask the National Energy Board for approval of the project in late 2013.
George said his band will make sure its opposition to the project is heard. We have inherent rights. We have aboriginal rights and title. Were going to assert those rights, he said. We will be heard.
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