Public Will Get Its Say on Enbridge Pipeline
Roger Harris Public will get its say on Enbridge pipelinePublished: August 19, 2008 11:00 PM
PUBLIC CONSULTATION on Enbridge’s Gateway pipeline project is set to begin in September.
The 1,150 kilometre pipeline would run from Kitimat to Strathcona Country, Alberta, just outside Edmonton. The twin pipeline would transport oil to Kitimat to be loaded in oil tankers heading to California and Asia. Condensate, a chemical used in the treatment of oil for transport, imported through Kitimat would be piped to customers in Edmonton.
Enbridge vice-president of communications and aboriginal partnerships Roger Harris was in Prince George last Wednesday to discuss the project with the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
The proposed route for the project would follow Hwy37 north from Kitimat before veering east passing just north of Burns Lake, south of Fort St. James, north of Bear Lake, south of Grand Prairie, south of Mayerthorpe and into Strathcona Country.
The project involves creating three tunnels through the Telkwa Pass totaling 12 kilometres long.
Harris, the former MLA for Skeena and current Ombudsman for Forestry Safety, said his focus is making sure the project benefits Northern B.C.
“Prince George is a hub, it’s a service centre... and will play a key role in how we roll this project out,” Harris said.
In 2005, Enbridge estimated the project would cost $4 billion — including $2.7 billion in wages spent in Northern B.C. The project is estimated to employ about 5,000 people over 12 “spreads” – construction sites.
“It’s safe to say that number has changed significantly — estimates are $6 billion to $8 billion, but we’re working to finalize that number now,” he said. “This will be one of the largest and most complex pipeline projects in North America.”
Enbridge shelved the project in 2005 because of a lack of commercial support, Harris said.
This time Enbridge has secured 10 commercial partners interested in using the pipeline to ship to international markets. Condensate is currently imported at Kitimat and is sent by rail tankers to Edmonton, he added.
Six teams in B.C. and Alberta are working with 50 First Nations along the route to sign consultation agreements, Harris said. By the end of August, Enbridge will have signed 10 agreements to fund research and consultation capacity with First Nations.
“We are going to be offering an equity package to First Nations. We’re thinking 10 per cent,” Harris said. “That would make First Nations owners in this project and meet their long-term benefits. We’re bringing an entirely new approach.”
Harris said Enbridge is urging the federal government to begin its consultation process with First Nations groups like the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council.
Public open houses on the project will run from September to November. Enbridge anticipates submitting for regulatory review in 2009, completing the review process by 2012 and finishing construction by 2015.
In addition to the open houses, Enbridge will be opening information offices in Kitimat, Terrace, Burns Lake and Grand Prairie in the fall. The Kitimat and Terrace offices are expected to open in September.