JRP Says Yes to Northern Gateway, But there are conditions
Northern Gateway route, and pump stations – map courtesy Joint Review Panel report
Prince George, B.C.- The Joint Review Panel has released its decision on the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
The panel has recommended approval of the project with 209 conditions, which call on Enbridge to develop a marine animal recovery plan, a caribou habitat restoration plan, and other issues such as employment.
The recommendations in today's final report, follow 199 recommendations that were issued to the proponent earlier this year when the panel released a preliminary report.
In today's report, the panel addresses the impact of construction or a spill on First Nations.
"In the unlikely event of a large oil spill, we found that there would be significant adverse effects on lands, waters, or resources used by Aboriginal groups. We found that these adverse effects would not be permanent and widespread."
"We found that some level of risk is inherent in the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project, and that no party could guarantee that a large spill would not occur. We found that a large spill, due to a malfunction or accident, from the pipeline facilities, terminal, or tankers, is not likely. We found that Northern Gateway has taken steps to minimize the likelihood of a large spill through its precautionary design approach and its commitments to use innovative and redundant safety systems, such as its commitments to address human error, equipment failures, and its corporate safety culture. These commitments and all others made by the company would be enforced under the regulatory regime."
The report also says the project would not have a permanent negtive impact on First Nations "We recognize that reduced or interrupted access to lands, waters, or resources used by Aboriginal groups, including for country foods, may result in disruptions in the ability of Aboriginal groups to practise their traditional activities. We recognize that such an event would place burdens and challenges on affected Aboriginal groups. We find that such interruptions would be temporary."
The JRP says Enbridge now says the project will likely cost $7.9 billion, that is up significantly from initial cost estimates for the twin pipeline. , the revised estimate comes from Enbridge.
The JRP outlined that its job was to "answer the fundamental question: Would Canada and Canadians be better off or worse off if the project goes ahead? "
"After weighing the evidence, we concluded that Canada and Canadians would be better off with the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project than without it."
You can access the full, two volume report here.
The Federal Goverment now has 180 days to respond and make a final decision.
Comments
In spite of all the sensors and monitoring equipment in Michigan, HUMANS overrode them and restarted the line. It was unheard of and then they started it up again TWICE more!!!
Then Enbridge, in spite of what their website and corporate statement says, tried to get out of paying for their responsibilities in court.
They have lied continuously about cleaning it up and have harassed those who went to see for themselves and document it.
Remember, this is the parent company of “Northern Gateway.” I don’t think that without a HUGE bond in place that can be used in the event of a spill without their interference and continuous third party oversight as to their yearly testing schedule for the pipeline, they can be trusted at all.
They have proved, that over and over.
Maybe Enbridge can hire Exxon Mobile to run things for them here.
Still cleaning up Kalamazoo spending over a billion to date.
So I guess now the fight starts!
The end of mother earth. Is nye!
Posted by: seamut on December 19 2013 3:18 PM
The end of mother earth. Is nye!
————
Have you parked your car yet? Turned off all your appliances? Didn’t think so.
We’ve been beating the snot out of Mother Earth for a couple of centuries now, but nobody is willing to do anything to stop it that may affect their way of life.
and by ‘you’ I’m speaking in general terms, not you specifically.
The end of the Stephen Harper Conservatives is nigh. They will lose seats in BC because of this, and they will lose their 39% majority as well. Good Riddance.
The First Nations will tie this up in courts for years, Trudeau or Mulcair will make sure it never happens.
The end of the Stephen Harper Conservatives is nigh. They will lose seats in BC because of this, and they will lose their 39% majority as well. Good Riddance.
The First Nations will tie this up in courts for years, Trudeau or Mulcair will make sure it never happens.
Was there ever really a doubt what the outcome of this panel would be? I don’t think that means those opposed are going to just lay down and say “oh well, we lost”.
Have people parked their cars yet? Turned off all their appliances? NO. of course not!
Actually, there is progress being made to have an ever greater portion of energy needs coming from alternate renewable sources like solar, geothermal, tidal and wind, possibly many others. The ultimate idealistic goal would be to not combust carbon based fuels altogether.
As far as I am concerned my objection to a pipeline such as this one is based on legitimate concern about the environment. Period.
If affordable power from other sources (not gasoline, not natural gas, not carbon based) would be available to keep my car going, my lights on and my house warm I would sign up for them in a heart beat.
In the meantime I rely on the experts and our governments to do the right thing. I won’t stop driving and I won’t sit in the dark shivering and starving.
That’s it.
Maybe the good eco citizens of Prince George could lobby whomever to have a wind turbine installed on the top of Cranbrook Hill to save our environment too. Look how well that hot water pipe going down George Street has worked.
Axeman didn’t realize I needed a sarc tag.
I am sure lessons learned from Kalamazoo.
PG has the most honest comment in this thread, he/she cares about the environment, but not enough to make a lifestyle change. At least somebody had the guts to say it.
Good to see that the JRP arrived at the right decision. I’d be interested to know more about the 209 conditions.
Please explain how this pipeline keeps our cars going when the freaking tar is going to China?
Is China shipping gasoline back? No!
The natives had a lot to say about logging South Moresby, so they will have a lot to say here too. There will road blocks and people laying down in front of equipment bigger than this province has ever seen.
“The Federal Government now has 180 days to respond and make a final decision.”
I guess once the Harper Government gives the proposed pipeline the official thumbs up anytime within the 180 days, the 160 First Nations who signed the Save the Fraser River Declaration will commence court action.
I will be right in line with my cheque book to help them with any litigation expenses!
Tie this baby up in the courts until we vote them out in the next Federal election!
It was never in doubt that the JRP would come out in favour of the project.
Even if the JRP had ruled against the pipeline Harper still had the final say.
Let’s watch the BC Lib’s slide to the side and not rock the boat and stay suspiciously quiet.
Tie up in the courts. Just think of all the greedy lawers rubbing their hands in glee.
Instead of spending untold money on lawyers why not wait for the next election. By the way that is a majority government in power not some NGO.
“In December 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a groundbreaking ruling containing its first definitive statement on the content of Aboriginal title in Canada. The decision in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia(1) also describes the scope of protection afforded Aboriginal title under subsection 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982; defines how Aboriginal title may be proved; and outlines the justification test for infringements of Aboriginal title.”
Harper, Enbridge, and their legion on lawyers, know that this proposed pipeline will be a huge infringement on Aboriginal Rights and Title in BC. Expect First Nations to challenge this proposed pipeline right up to the Supreme Court of Canada, and expect them to win… AGAIN!!!!
Here is the link to the 1997 Delgamuukw v. British Columbia ruling, for anyone who want’s to learn what Harper and Enbridge are up against.
Basically, the Harper Government and Enbridge are completely out gunned on legal grounds. By the time this gets up to the Supreme Court of Canada there will probably have been two Federal elections in Canada (a period of at least six years), and Harper will have tried in vain to change the highest law in Canada, our Constitution, to try and take away Aboriginal rights enshrined in it since Canada became a country.
He (Harper) can make all the changes he wants to environmental laws and regulations for his big oil buddies, but the Constitution of Canada is so above him!
Sorry here is the link… I had a long day I think…
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/researchpublications/bp459-e.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/extreme-ice.html
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/sledhed/itsoilgoood.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/sledhed/FIPA_zpsc54828ea.jpg
I’m guessing that the legal challenges will move much quicker than the normal glacial pace. As well the supreme court isn’t stacked with Chretien judges like it was with Delgamuukw. The upside of this, one way or the other, it will hopefully define the scope of first nation “sovereignty”. Will Canada be a “Balkanized” jurisdiction with hundreds of fiefdoms? If so, I guess a 200 member band will essentially have veto power over 33 million people.
Oh my Dragonmaster I see you are into photoshopping, good job.
I wonder what Trudeau who never says anything of worth who is against the Gateway pipeline but will leave it upto the experts will say now. Hey income trust rich kid the experts have spoken. What do you say now.
So peopled#1 you are happy with money wasted on lawyers. Oh save your money the unelected environmental industry get lots of money from foreign groups like the Rockefellers.
dow states; ” If so, I guess a 200 member band will essentially have veto power over 33 million people.”
Better that than 30-50 Oil & Gas Company CEO’s having veto power over 33 million people!
At least a 200 member Indian band won’t be going anywhere and is interested in sustainable development of natural resources so their future generations have some semblance of nature to enjoy…
30-50 Oil & Gas CEO’s will have their companies extract everything, and then move on to another country. These Oil & Gas Companies you are defending have no morals and no values, except for greed, yes they have plenty of greed for money!
And that’s how I judge dow, the seas, and JB, by their defense of these national pillagers of our resources, they value and defend greed at the expense of our future children and their children.
People#1 you really should look into where big green gets their money from. Hint onesoutce bigoil. It’s all about positioning and politics.
I’m waiting for the day People#1 and people like him/her realize that we in Canada have one of the world’s best standards of living largely due to resource extraction. And that isn’t changing anytime soon.
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