Submitted. A series of public information sessions will be held to inform Fraser Valley residents about the National Energy Board (NEB) review of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline proposal. ForestEthics Advocacy and the PIPE UP Network, are organizing the information sessions which will be held in Langley, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
Kinder Morgan is proposing to build a new export pipeline to carry diluted bitumen to offshore markets. The proposal is to ship an additional 590,000 barrels of bitumen per day through BC.
“We hope this will fill a need for residents who will be affected by Kinder Morgan’s proposal,” said session organizer Sven Biggs of ForestEthics Advocacy. “It is a whole new ballgame since the federal government changed the rules in 2012 with omnibus budget bill C-45. We are concerned that the NEB has not provided public in-person information sessions about the new review process. We want to try to fill that gap.”
Langley resident Byron Smith said: “People in Fort Langley and Walnut Grove are directly affected. Each of these communities is an alternate route for the proposed pipeline, and folks want to comment. The National Energy Board can approve or reject applications to make written comment or be an intervenor. It is not exactly a user-friendly process.”
“The people on the north shore of the Fraser River feel just as affected as those nearer the pipeline,” said Mike Gildersleeve, a PIPE UP member from Mission. “Should there be an oil spill into the Fraser River or one of its tributaries, it would affect local economies. Residents want to have a say, yet many of those who have participated in NEB information sessions online have found it confusing. We hope to try to demystify the process.”
PIPE UP member Lynn Perrin said: “Everyone in Southwestern BC is potentially affected by this pipeline proposal, yet it is much more difficult for residents to speak about how it affects them. Residents can no longer make oral statements as they did in the review of Sumas Energy 2 ten years ago or in the more recent review of the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal.”
“Residents in Chilliwack and other communities within the Fraser Valley Regional District have expressed concerns about the possibility of a route through the Cheam Lake Wetlands. Many are interested in making comments,” said Michael Hale, a Chilliwack resident. “The pipeline route is also near several schools in the Lower Mainland. I’m sure that the NEB would want to hear the views of these residents, so the intent of these sessions is to make it easier for people to voice their opinions.”
Information sessions are scheduled for the following locations and dates:
Maple Ridge – February 3, Municipal Council Chambers, 7-9:00 p.m.
Chilliwack – February 4, University of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack. Room A1354, 45190 Caen Avenue Chilliwack BC V2R 0N3
Abbotsford – February 5, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Room B133, 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M8 7-9:00 p.m.
Langley – February 6, Ft. Langley Community Hall, 6-8:00 p.m. (note that the hall will be open from 2:00 on for people who wish to drop in).
For more information please contact:
Sven Biggs, sven.biggs@gmail.com, 778-882-8354
Mike Gildersleeve, mgdiverse@hotmail.com, 604-805-8856
Lynn Perrin, lperrinf@gmail.com, 604-309-9369
Byron Smith, byron@imagecultivation.com, 604-842-1493
Michael Hale, sunfolk@gmail.com, 604-799-3391