Interview with Burnaby Pipeline Watch (Part Two)- Alan and Karl.

Part one of this interview can be found here.

5) What are the economic risks of oil spill?-

A variety of risks go with varying of degrees of oil spill. In 2007, there was an oil spill in Burnaby that released 220,000 litres of oil, which is considered a small spill in comparison to most general oil spills. The companies had to spend $20.5 million in mediation and still today, it has not been effectively cleaned. There is still heavy oil in the water. No compensation for the hassle and there are still long term economic costs. Even a small spill can be incredibly costly. Property values go along with health impacts. Word gets around that people are getting cancer and other health issues. Burnaby life expectancy is dropping because of the oil spills. In terms of the costs, taxpayers pay for it. Insurance package doesn’t cover major spills. Even with a minor spill, the city and emergency services have to respond immediately, which is a waste of time, resources and taxpayer money.

6) What are some facts about kinder morgan or the pipeline, that if the regular, everyday person were to come across them, would make them definitely consider opposing the pipeline?- Property values will go down, and there will be a major loss of revenue. Taxes would increase because of the pipeline,as well as the issues that will come from the pipeline. On a ridge, you have intensified shaking. Burnaby mountain is on a ridge, and the pipeline is going right through there. Google Tank Farms and see how many explosions there’s been. 5.4 million barrels will be in tanks, in an incredibly seismically active area in BC. The pipeline is going to go right through the mountain, with a school there as well as many apartments. Building a pipeline through Burnaby is one of the worst ideas in the history of British Columbia. Economically, environmentally, health-wise and safety-wise, it does not make any sense whatsoever.

7) What are the incidents that Kinder Morgan has cost British Columbia?- 

Over 72 incidents since 1950’s. In terms of the last 6-7 years, there have been many incidents as well. The 2007 oil spill is discussed in the previous question. There was a tank farm spill in 2009. Another rupture in 2011 and 2012 in Sumas. There have been tons of incidents. Recently, there has been issues in the Coquihalla as well. The problem is that when they built the pipeline in the Coquihalla, they realized that they are going from a plateau to a steep drop towards the lower mainland. In this case, they should have made an extra strength pipeline,. They did not do that. David Ellis said there should be some leakage, and low and behold, they found some. Nobody was reporting it though. Putting pipelines at weak points is a disaster in the making, and the proof of that has been shown through the many disasters that have occurred in this province alone.

Special thanks to Karl and Alan for taking part in this interview! A link to the Burnaby Pipeline Watch website can be found here. Here is a link to their Facebook page as well.