TFN doesn't want lines on Hwy. 17
by Sandor Gyarmati
Delta Optimist
12 August 2006
The Tsawwassen First Nation won't accept new power lines running through its community, says Chief Kim Baird.
Responding to criticisms from Tsawwassen homeowners that planned higher voltage power lines should be diverted to run parallel with Highway 17, Baird pointed out her band stated right from the beginning that isn'tanacceptablealternative.
"We have felt that we have brunted a lot of the infrastructure that benefits the province and the country, when you look at the port and the ferry terminal (and) the highway went through the middle of our reserve. So my community does not have much more appetite for accommodating more," said Baird about the B.C. Transmission Corporation's power lines routing referred to as Option 4.
Baird said there's no compelling reason why her band would want power lines, and they're just as concerned about exposure to electromagnetic fields as anyone else.
The chief noted BCTC met with the TFN last year to discuss the Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project, and the TFN made it clear an "above ground" application raised concerns about EMF and the visual impacts, while an "underground" application raised concerns about the impact on archaeological remains of their original community.
Discussions never advanced to the point of potential financial compensation, she said.
"If they were ever going to infringe on what we viewed as our rights, because it was deemed as a viable route they were pursuing, we would expect to have negotiations dealing with that," said Baird.
"But as far as we are concerned, it never evolved to that type of discussion, and as far as I know the Highway 17 option was never viewed, to our relief, as a viable option anyway."
Baird, pointing out her band is also opposed to the route (Option 5) along Deltaport Way, said some in her band fear their concerns aren't viewed as valid as others.
Another route (Option 6) does have the support of the TFN, although that option would cost millions more. That route involves removing one 138 kV (kiloVolts) line through Tsawwassen and replacing it with a submarine cable through Boundary Bay around Point Roberts. In a letter last year to B.C. Hydro, the band noted Option 6 is potentially the most environmentally sensitive.
The TFN's opposition to the Highway 17 and Deltaport Way options was brought up several times at the B.C. Utilities Commission hearing this year, but that hasn't stopped some Tsawwassen residents from continuing to push for the Highway 17 alternative.
Saying they're angered their request to see a right-of-way agreement along Highway 17 was ignored, some Tsawwassen residents recently told the Optimist they've uncovered paperwork showing BCTC does have the underground right-of-way, and thus doesn't need the consent of the band.
They also noted the TFN would not be impacted anyway because there are no homes next to the highway.
BCTC spokesperson Donna McGeachie, however, said the documents in question did not contradict evidence BCTC submitted to the commission.
McGeachie noted as far as BCTC is aware, it does not have the underground rights for power lines, and there isn't enough land for new overhead lines.
"We would need to acquire some additional right-of-way there as well, so that's what they (BCUC) mean when they talk about archeological and environmental concerns and high impact of First Nations."
BCTC representatives also told he commission that even if the province owns Highway 17, it does not matter because the highway should not be used as an option because the whole embankment is subject to movement in a seismic event.
Delta, an intervener in the hearings, disputed BCTC's claim about the poor soil condition and seismic risk.
Posted by Arthur Caldicott on 12 Aug 2006