Province Sets Stage for Its Involvement in Cross Examination Phase of Pipeline Review
Prince George, B.C.- The Province of B.C. has served notice it will be actively involved in the cross examination phase of the Joint Review Panel’s review of the Northern Gateway twin pipeline project.
In a letter to the JRP, the Province says it will need 8.5 hours to cross examine four different panels of experts and will be asking questions on:
* Spill prevention including tanker evaluation, provisions for escort tugs and the training of tug crews as well as commitments NGP has recently made to improve pipeline safety and mitigate spill risk. Those commitments include increasing the wall thickness of the pipeline, increasing the frequency of inspections, installing dual leak detection systems and 24/7 staffing of pump stations in remote locations.
* Spill response including commitments NGP has made to exceed regulatory standards for spill response and tanker safety, the use of rescue and escort tugs as well as crew training. Further information will be sought regarding response planning, including the ability to overcome geographic and climate challenges, and challenges specific to the nature of heavy oil. The extent of NGP’s reliance on the Western Canada Marine response organization and practices of NGP in the wake of the spill in Michigan will also be probed.
* Financial liability of NGP and its partners for spill response and restoration as well as details regarding liability insurance and plans for full environmental restoration in the event of a spill. This includes the scope of NGP’s liability and insurance.
Cross-examination at the joint panel final hearings will begin Sept. 4 and run through December 2012. Tentative dates for the final hearings are:
- Edmonton – Sept. 4 to 28
- Prince George Oct. 1 to Nov. 10 and
- Prince Rupert Nov. 12 to Dec. 18.
The final argument phase of the JRP’s review is currently set for March and April of 2013.
Comments
Third Party the liability, Have them post a one billion dollar bond.
One word is missing.
Hundred.
What is missing in this article is an awful lot about how FNs will take this project to court over the lack of consultation, which will infringe their rights and title…I heard, yet another arrogant and ignorant “business columnist” from the Calgary Herald, Debra Yedlin…she was flat-out brutal in her approach. On how Alberta will not meet the conditions set out by the so-called BC Gov’t…it was on CBC show,BC Almanac today…she and others like her, just don’t get it, which is too bad for them. FNs, in this province of BC, will make sure, that this Enbridge gateway project will not see the light of day for construction…it will be tied up in the court system for years to come…even if they use CN Rail to transport the oil, it simply won’t happen…
They can promise all the safety and inspections they like but what are they going to do if they find something wrong? They found something wrong with the Kalamazoo pipeline and did nothing. They ignore safety and environmental rules and regulations so who says they aren’t going to ignore them here?
Enbridge’s reputation is toast so they may just as well make a “U” turn and go back to where they came from and take Harper with them.
“”Prince George, B.C.- The Province of B.C. has served notice it will be actively involved in the cross examination phase of the Joint Review Panelâs review of the Northern Gateway twin pipeline project.””
They have been teaching kids in school for years…..JUST SAY NO…..that is what the province of BC should be doing.
Both Christie and Adrian are saying that they are asking for the things they want form this pipeline, namely more money and better safeguards. Niether are saying they can or will try to actually stop it.
I think they won’t say they will stop it because they cannot stop it regardless of a public revolt.
I doubt that Endbridge and friends were not expecting to have to deal with the first nations and there is probably a bunch of suitcases full of money earmarked for most of them when the time comes.
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