Opposition to Upper Pitt power project closes public meeting

COMMENT: As noted here, "The Upper Pitt River Water Power Project would include seven small run-of-river hydro-electric components and send a powerline through Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park near Pitt Lake."

Subsequently, it issued guidelines on how to go about applying for parkland for transmission lines.

Back in GSX Pipeline days, the proposed pipeline route went straight through an ecological zone between Salt Spring Island and the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula. A freedom of information request - heavily redacted, we might add - revealed that for two years, starting even before the pipeline project was made public, bureaucrats in BC Parks and government ministers were meeting with BC Hydro to figure out how to accommodate BC Hydro's plans and minimize public awareness and opposition.

Now, it appears nothing needs to be redacted. There's no pretense to cater to public opinion. The government wants this to happen. The meter has run out on Burke Mountain.

If you are in the Lower Mainland, the next public meeting on this project is Tuesday, March 4. It would be great if you could pack it so damn full that they can't find a place big enough to hold a meeting.

A good backgrounder is available from the Burke Mountain Naturalists website: www.bmn.bc.ca/doc%5CUPinfo.pdf

There are three processes under way right now. Please intervene in them all.

1. The project is in pre-application status with the Environmental Assessment Office. The EAO will receive comments on the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) until April 8, 2008. The draft TOR are here:
http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/html/deploy/epic_document_291_25465.html

Your invitation to comment is here: http://tinyurl.com/2v9vp5. Send your comments to UpperPittRiver@gov.bc.ca.

The EAO is pretty anal about what's taken into consideration with these comments - you have to speak to the draft TOR. "THIS PROJECT SUCKS" doesn't carry any weight. - but let 'er rip. Once the final TOR are approved (by the EAO), the company will go away and write up an application containing an environmental impact assessment which will address all the points in the TOR. Then a window will open up for more public comments.

2. The company has applied to have the park boundaries realigned. The deadline for public comment is April 2. You can send them by email to PineconeBurke@gov.bc.ca.

More information, including the application (which you should read before sending your comments (again, "SUCKS" probably will be ignored.)
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/bound_adj_policy.html#pinecone

3. The company is holding three open houses. The first was in Squamish on Feb 27. The second was Feb 28 in Pitt Meadows and so packed that "the Fire Marshall was called in and the meeting was shut down." Hmm. No intent to stifle dissent, we're sure. Just a public safety issue. This meeting will be rescheduled. The third meeting is Tuesday, March 4, 4:00-9:00 pm in Mission (Best Western Mission City Lodge, 32281 Lougheed Hwy). Please car pool if you are coming out from Vancouver. Public transit at that time of day isn't very helpful, but a drive to Mission is worth it.

It's uncivil, and won't persuade anyone that you are correct, but signs and statements that say things like "THIS PROJECT SUCKS", well, we wouldn't counsel that, if you catch our drift.

If enough people are expressive enough for long enough, media and politicians will notice.

Power-full meeting cancelled by attendance

PITT MEADOWS/CKNW(AM980) - A proposed power project near Pitt Meadows cutting through a provincial park brought out plenty of opposition at a public meeting Thursday evening. Too many, in fact.

The Upper Pitt River Water Power Project would include seven small run-of-river hydro-electric components and send a powerline through Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park near Pitt Lake.

But, hundreds of people packed a public meeting to oppose the plan because of environmental and First Nations concerns. So many, the Fire Marshall was called in and the meeting was shut down.

The company behind the project, Northwest-Cascade Power, promises to schedule another meeting.

Communities rally against IPP

People from as far as Pitt River delivered passionate pleas to protect Pinecone Burke Provincial Park Monday (Feb. 25). Banners hung outside Sea to Sky Hotel reading, “Save the Upper Pitt!” and “Save BC’S Parks” seemed to set the tone for the open house hosted by BC Parks, the Environmental Assessment Office and Northwest Cascade Power.

The run-of-river company has proposed an Independent Power Project (IPP) on the Upper Pitt River. They have applied to change the boundaries of Pinecone Park to accommodate a transmission line, which would cross over 4.7 kilometres of its northern tip to connect with the Cheekye Substation north of Squamish.

The room of about 60 people broke out in cheers each time someone spoke against the proposal and questions quickly escalated to attacks on the B.C. government.

While some said decent citizens would never propose such a project, much of the criticism hit parks staff rather than the proponent.

“I don’t have a single question for this private company whose job it is to make a profit,” said Joe Foy of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. “I see no information from BC Parks that helps me separate the bull**t from the truth from this company.”

“Where’s your display fighting for the park?” asked Ehor Boyanowsky, adding that park staff seemed to have resigned themselves to being apologists rather than advocates.

BC Parks Planner Brett Hudson said he was required to consider any proposal to change a park boundary, adding that any change would require legislature approval. The change would also have to be in the public’s interest.

According to company president Jako Krushnisky, the project could create enough electricity to power 55,700 homes, adding more renewable energy to the Hydro grid. He said building a transmission line across park is only being considered because there is no other options.

Studies have shown the area has seasonal wildlife use by mountain goats and grizzly bears. It is composed of old growth forest, wetlands and grass meadows.

“The old growth... we’ve tried to avoid them as best we can,” said project spokesperson Russ Tyson. When asked why the open houses were not scheduled for Vancouver and Coquitlam where the push had originally come to create Pinecone Burke Provincial Park in 1996, Hudson said the proponent chooses meeting locations. He said open houses could be scheduled for the city if “amenable” to the proponent.

“...the private company that wants to wreck our park gets to choose where those meeting are and aren’t,” said Foy. The project is in the early stages of the Environmental Assessment Process. The public is invited to comment on the proposed draft Terms of Reference on the EAO website until April 8.