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Regional Governments on the GSX Route
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SAN JUAN COUNTY WHATCOM COUNTY FRASER VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT
ALBERNI CLAYOQUOT REGIONAL DISTRICT CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT
ISLANDS TRUST REGIONAL DISTRICT OF COMOX STRATHCONA REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NANAIMO
San Juan County, Board of County Commissioners

The BOCC of SJC has exchanged correspondence with BC Hydro and with Williams for the better part of a year now, about the portion of the GSX that will pass through their county. [ed. CVRD directors, on the other hand, were told about the GSX last year on the condition that they must not divulge the information, in advance of GSX releasing it.]

For those of us on Vancouver Island who have witnessed Hydro and Williams staff at meetings, and wondered why they were so silent - a clue may lie in these minutes about a meeting of Williams people and the SJC Marine Resources Committee. These guys are trouble, folks. Dangerous trouble. Every statement in this paragraph indicates why the GSX should not be built.
3. Marine Resources Committee Meeting – Commissioner Miller attended the MRC meeting held on Wednesday, November 3, 1999. The Committee hosted representatives from Williams, the company whose responsibility it will be to install the proposed natural gas pipeline. Commissioner Miller reported that Williams only has experience in warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, not in this area, that they have hired an engineering firm from Norway. They also compared laying the pipeline to laying electric cable. The company has experienced at least one blow up of a pipeline in the last three years. Representatives were asked about the depreciation of the pipeline three times before stating that it should last 30 years, but don’t even know if there will be natural gas available in three years. They were asked what safety precautions they were going to put in place being that a natural gas pipeline would be installed next to an oil refinery. They stated that they hadn’t thought about that. The company was also not aware that the area is subject to earthquake activity, not aware that the area was nominated for Marine Sanctuary status, and they were not aware of the currents off Turn Point. They noted their environmental awareness was of sponges and stated that putting in the pipeline would add habitat. Dr. Dennis Willows, of the University Labs and a member of the SJC MRC, asked how much methane would leak and what would happen molecularly with a break in the methane pipe. They were unable to respond. A student in attendance politely said to the representatives of Williams that they should send people to these meetings who know what they are talking about.

Unsatisfied with this meeting with Williams staff, the BOCC wrote to BC Hydro:
...letter to BC Hydro requesting a re-evaluation of the proposed site of the natural gas pipeline between Cherry Point, WA, and Vancouver Island, B. C., Canada, due to the already stressed ecosystem.

BC Hydro responded with the kind of reply we have come to expect from them. They avoided the questions asked of them, and punted the BOCC back to Williams. The BOCC is clearly alarmed. BOCC considers prohibiting natural gas pipelines.
4. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) Letter Regarding the Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline - In a letter dated December 23, 1999, BC Hydro’s Project Manager, Gordon Keir responded to the letter of the BOCC dated December 14, 1999. The Board’s letter detailed the concerns of SJC about the proposal for a pipeline that will run through SJC. BY Hydro informed the BOCC that they had requested proposals, evaluated submissions, and chose the firm of Williams to be the partner in the development of the project which is being called the Georgia Strait Crossing Project. Mr. Keir also informed the Board that he had forwarded a copy of the SJC letter to Chris Bias, the project leader for Williams. He advised the Board that technical questions regarding routing, environmental protection and construction were best answered by Williams. The Board discussed the issue and noted that no permits have been applied for locally. Commissioner Nielsen suggested amending the existing regulations that prohibit oil pipelines in SJC to include prohibiting natural gas pipelines. Commissioner Evans suggested the Board prepare a letter for distribution to appropriate agencies in WA State as well as the Oil Spill Task Force and Puget Sound Action Team. It was also suggested that the SJC Marine Resource Committee prepare a separate letter addressing their concerns. Commissioner Miller will prepare a draft for further consideration.

If the BOCC do not already have enough to contend with, an even bigger beast is staring them in the eyes. And look who's there - Westcoast Energy - same guys that own the pipe that the GSX will connect to at the Sumas end, and own Centra Gas and own Island CoGen. Whose tail is wagging whose dog?
3. Letter from Westcoast Energy Regarding a Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline – The Board reviewed the letter announcing that Westcoast Energy Inc., Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, and Puget Sound Energy are commencing a study to determine the feasibility of developing a new natural gas pipeline to serve Northwest Washington consumers. The BOCC noted they still have concerns regarding impacts on the marine environment if the pipe is laid in the waters of SJC. It was agreed to prepare a response to include copies of previous correspondence to other firms regarding this issue.

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Whatcom County Council

Whatcom County had to contend with the liquid gas pipeline explosion in Bellingham, June 10, 1999. Three deaths and environmental catastrophe in Whatcom Creek were only the worst of the consequences that the county has been dealing with since then. There are good resources on our link page. Safety of pipelines is paramount - not an easy task in a county that's overrun with major and minor lines (see map).

These are a couple of items related to Sumas Energy 2 and pipelines:

Ordinance 2000-026 continuing a moratorium on the acceptance of conditional use permit applications for regional transmission pipelines of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas; and declaring an emergency (AB2000-216A) (hearing to be scheduled). Ordinance, June 27, 2000

Resolution 2000-018 to intervene in the matter of the Sumas Energy 2 Generation Facility pending before the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) Resolution, April 17, 2000

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Fraser Valley Regional District

The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) is already buzzing with Sumas Energy 2, the proposed 660 MW cogen plant. The minutes of the FVRD meeting of April 26, 2000 contains a lot of interesting material, including these items:
  • a motion that the FVRD not support the Sumas Energy 2 Project
  • skepticism regarding the accuracy and validity of some of the information provided [by the proponents]
  • no support from the provincial Minister of Environment, though it was formally requested
  • Whatcom County councillor visiting FVRD offers statement of support for the FVRD opposition to the project and application for intervenor status
Read the entire section of these minutes. (Warning - the FVRD minutes are a pain to download and read. They're all PDFs.)

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Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
City of Port Alberni

No information here. Hardly even a web site.
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Capital Regional District

Richard Dalon, representative on the Capital Regional District for the Outer Gulf Islands, has sent a letter to David Anderson and the NEB, asking for an Independent Panel Review. His letter, dated August 24, 2000, is at http://www.sqwalk.com/Dalon_NEB.htm

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Cowichan Valley Regional District

Cobble Hill Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2122 on October 10, 2000 to include statements that:
  • CVRD supports Kyoto Protocol
  • CVRD supports use of hydro-electric power, and supply to Vancouver Island so long as power is exported from BC
  • CVRD does not support fossil-fuel plants on Vancouver Island
  • CVRD discourages generation of greenhouse gases
  • CVRD supports use of environmentally benign power sources
Read the full bylaw amendment at http://www.sqwalk.com/CVRD_OCP2122.htm

CVRD on August 23 approved these motions

That the Cowichan Valley Regional District urge the the Hon. David Anderson to establish an "Independent Panel Review" so that local governments will be assured of full participation in the review of the GSX project.

That the CVRD urge the NEB to consider the following during their scoping assessment,

1.The the proposed GSX pipeline is slated for an identified earthquake zone. Construction and management must be such that there's zero increase in risk after the GSX is in place.

2. That the proposed pipeline be considered through a "Cumulative Effects Study" that would include an examination of the impacts that could be realized from the three proposed cogeneration plants and to consider cumulative effects within or outside of Canada that are likely to occur from the Georgia Strait Crossing Project.

3. That need for the project is demonstrated, in terms of increased electricity demand.

4. Economic viability. The cost of natural gas has and will continue to increase in price challenging assumptions used when the plan was made.

5. Greenhouse Gas. The pollution, both globally and on a local valley basis.

6. Negative Economic Impacts: The Vancouver Island economies will be threatened through increased costs for electricity generated by Natural Gas.

7. Free Trade Ramifications. The uncertainty of supply when we are being informed of coming natural gas shortages and that BC Natural Gas is being routed through the United States.

8. Proper and reasonable study of "Green Sources" of energy as an alternative considering that the present supplies are adequate for the considerable future.

9. Retaining and upgrading the HVDC Cable that supplies Vancouver Island with 80 percent of our energy requirements without the negative impacts of increased pollution and greenhouse gases.

10. Safety Issues: gas pipelines are demonstrably dangerous, gas is compressed so they never "leak", they explode (witness the "minor" incident on the Coquihalla Highway August 6, 2000.)

11. Dangerous location of pipeline. The location is in close proximity to the Chevron Oil (Gas Tank Farm) and the densely populated, Arbutus Ridge, seniors retirement community.

12. Landowner opposition. All landowners of farmland, except one, are opposed to the pipeline being located on their property.

13. Alienation of Farmland. The highest and best use of farmland is for the growing of food. It is time that we rejected the notion that farmland is a convenient site for utility corridors. The proposed route cuts through some of the best farmland in the South Cowichan Region.

A number of motions have been approved:
  • Opposing Canadian gas being transported to the States, and then imported to the Island.
  • Advising BC Hydro that the CVRD is strongly opposed to allowing Hydro access to Manley Creek Park or adjacent lands for purposes of drilling and testing regarding their proposed Georgia Strait Crossing Project.
  • That the CVRD forward a letter to the Honourable Dan Miller, Minister of Energy and Mines, requesting full disclosure of BC Hydro's plans with regard to the Georgia Strait Crossing Project, and advise what options are available for the future energy supply for Vancouver Island; and that copies be forwarded to local MLA's.
  • Urging BC Hydro to conduct public meetings in South Cowichan regarding the proposed gas pipeline extension, prior to route determination.
And at the May 10, 2000 meeting, the Kerry Park Town Hall Pipeline Meeting was recognized. Note that this meeting was organized by area representatives, and NOT by Hydro.
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Islands Trust

The Islands Trust has formally written to Federal Environment Minister, David Anderson, requesting that he refer the GSX proposal to an Independent Panel Review. The letter, dated August 22, 2000, is on file at http://www.sqwalk.com/472AndersonAug22.htm

Richard Dalon, representative on the Capital Regional District for the Outer Gulf Islands, has sent a letter to David Anderson and the NEB, asking for an Independent Panel Review. His letter, dated August 24, 2000, is at http://www.sqwalk.com/Dalon_NEB.htm

As of mid -July, the Islands Trust had already taken steps with the GSX, including formally applying as intervenors in the NEB environmental assessment and pipeline approval process.

They have written the NEB to ensure that they, the trustees, are made aware of the NEB process, given appropriate opportunities to present to the NEB, and that the NEB remains aware of Islands Trust concerns and issues.

At that time (July 14, 2000), the trustees have not taken a position for or against the pipeline.

Four months ago, according to Gordon McIntosh, Executive Director of the Islands Trust, the Executive Committee met with Hydro/Williams. Asked to consult with the communities and islands involved, Hydro held subsequent information sessions on some of the islands closest to the pipeline route.

The Islands Trust maintains an ongoing relationship with the Board of County Commissioners of San Juan County. The primary initiative shared by the two jurisdictions is the Marine Protected Area proposal (which overlaps and is compatible with the Orca Pass International Stewardship Area proposed by Georgia Strait Alliance and People of Puget Sound). The GSX has received little discussion, however, between the BOCC and IT.

The NEB held information sessions on the southern islands in the week of July 17-21. NEB's official notice here.
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Regional District of Comox-Strathcona
No apparent info.
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Regional District of Nanaimo
Nada.
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