Kinder Morgan held a public information session this past Saturday at BICS to introduce the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project. 27 participants showed up to observe, learn and most importantly ask questions about the proposed pipeline.
The current pipeline was constructed in 1953 and operates between Strathcona Country, Alberta, and Burnaby, B.C. This pipeline has been increased a number of times by twinning the line, with the most recent addition completed in 2008, which runs through Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park. By twinning the existing pipeline, the hope is to minimize construction and the impact to new areas. The proposed expansion would increase the current system's capacity to pump 300,000 barrels per day to 750,000 barrels per day. Approximately 900 kilometres of new pipeline would be needed to complete the twinning process. The existing line would be for refined products, synthetic crude oils and light crude oils while the new line would be for heavier oils.
The Westridge Marine Terminal currently deals with eight vessels per month, five are tankers. With the proposed expansion this number would increase to 28 per month, of which 25 would be tankers. The size of these tankers would not change as per harbour restrictions (check out http://www.marinetraffic.com for live traffic updates).
Gathering information was the main objective for most people with concerns for any environmental impact the pipeline may have on marine and coastal shores specifically our own. Safety issues, emergency response preparedness and commitments to environmental assessments were all high on the list of questions and concerns.
Kinder Morgan is holding 37 information sessions all around B.C. and is asking for people to fill out a feedback form to help them design a public consultation program. This in turn is said to help to determine specific community needs. If you wish to get more information about the expansion project, or fill out the form, visit www.transmountain.com.
If this project is approved, the proposed start date of construction would be 2016 through to 2017.
