Dear Editor:
Re: Consultation on Pipeline Lacking: Tsleil-Waututh, Oct. 4 news story.
Thank you to Jane Seyd and the North Shore News for this excellent article.
As a former senior industrial hygienist directly involved with coordinating the enforcement of industrial health and safety regulations in B.C., I share the extreme concern and frustration on the part of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
Having researched similar regulations involving the provision of effective emergency procedures in the event of an ocean oil spill, there is no question in my mind that the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the people of B.C. have been victimized by a delinquent and scandalous process which amounts to a whitewashing and avoidance of the fact that the technology is simply not available to effectively contain and dispose of diluted bitumen in the event of an ocean spill.
The current scientific information plainly supports the fact that diluted bitumen sinks in salt water when battered by waves and mixed with sediments, and that spill response is consequently highly problematic when dealing with submerged or sunken oil. And that, I believe, is the equally plain reason the Squamish people received only “generalities” in the response of the National Energy Board when they brought up the issue during the NEB process.
That process of keeping the public in the dark was further confirmed in 2015, when Kinder Morgan was able to seek and obtain an NEB ruling which permitted the corporation to keep the full details of its emergency plans secret. By obtaining the full divulgence of those plans with regard to an ocean spill, I believe the lawyers of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation will be able to provide evidence that they do not comply with the pertinent regulations requiring the provision of effective emergency measures for the containment and disposal of such an oil spill in the ocean, as it involves diluted bitumen.
I believe British Columbians are dealing with a stonewalling situation which must be stopped in its tracks if we value the health of our unique coastal environment, of our businesses which depend upon that environment and of our overall quality of life on the west coast of Canada.
I also believe the Tsleil-Waututh Nation is rightfully leading the charge in those efforts and that it should be fully supported by our local politicians, community groups, businesses and citizens at large.
John Sbragia
Bowen Island
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