December 19, 2013
by Susan MacVittie
The Enbridge Pipeline project has been given the green light.
Today the Joint Review Panel for the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Project today recommended that the federal government approve the project, subject to 209 required conditions.
The Panel found that the project, if built and operated in compliance with the conditions set out in its report, would be in the public interest. Not sure which public interest they are speaking of, considering polls have repeatedly shown BC residents are opposed to the pipeline project.
Over 9,000 British Columbians submitted written statements to the National Energy Board (NEB)and over 1,161 people spoke publicly at the hearings and all but two people were opposed. The overwhelming majority of intervenors, expert witnesses, and even the Government of British Columbia formally requested that the NEB reject this pipeline proposal.
The Panel also found that “Northern Gateway had 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. The Panel also found that, after mitigation, the likelihood of significant adverse environmental effects resulting from project malfunctions or accidents is very low.”
So far it isn’t clear whether the National Energy Board’s conditions of the $100-million in “ready cash” that could be accessed within days of a large spill to help with the cleanup and $950-million in liability coverage would be included in the list of Panel conditions. Many experts have spoken out that the technology to clean up an oil spill on the coast does not exist. Might as well throw the money in the ocean – at least it’ll soak up some of that crude.
Federal Cabinet has 180 days to respond.The decision on whether or not this project should proceed will be made by the Governor in Council.
Watershed Sentinel spoke with Karen Wristen, Executive Director, Living Oceans Society moments after the decision was announced.
“The recommendation made today is not a project approval. That task now lies with the federal government and they must first fulfill their obligations to consult with First Nations.
It is interesting, however, that the Panel imposed so many conditions on the approval because the federal government will be bound by those conditions. They cannot pick and choose, as they have done so many times in the past with other projects. The real decision to watch for is the one that will be made by Enbridge’s funding partners, as they consider the cost implications of meeting the conditions in an economy where oil is selling for only 2/3 the price projected in the application.”
Responses about the decision will make the headlines for days to come. My favorite is a tweet from Naomi Klein, “Hey Tories, if u think #tarsands oil is “conflict free” just try to build that pipeline through BC.”
The fight against Enbridge is not over. Sentiments about Holding the Wall are going to get very real.
Government of Canada media release: HERE
