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Federal Government Turns a Blind Eye To Enbridge Pipeline’s Potential Impacts
Media Releases | ForestEthics | December 04, 2009
Dec. 4, 2009 (SMITHERS, BC) – Environmental group ForestEthics is strongly condemning the federal government’s recently announced terms of reference for assessing Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline.
More than 2,000 comments were made on the draft terms of reference, more than any other project in the history of the National Energy Board and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. While some improvements were made, the new terms of reference fall short of what’s required for a project of this magnitude.
“The process the federal government has selected for considering this project turns a blind eye to the climate impacts of tar sands expansion,” said Nikki Skuce, an energy campaigner with ForestEthics. “This is a review process that has historically approved 99% of the projects it has considered.”
If approved the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline would allow a 40% expansion of Alberta’s tar sands which hold the potential to push the world above two degrees of warming and into runaway climate change – an unprecedented responsibility. The project would also expose interior salmon rivers and coastal marine environments to the risk of oil spills.
“This pipeline would change our coast forever,” said Skuce, “Our region deserves a better process for considering this project. There’s too much at risk to expect anything less.”
Given the narrow scope and concerns about the CEAA/NEB process, a number of municipalities and local governments in the affected region have called for a Public Inquiry, including the Town of Smithers, Prince Rupert, and the Prince Rupert and Queen Charlotte Islands Regional District. Opposition to the proposed pipeline is strong in the northwest with a number of First Nations standing up against it.
For more information:
Nikki Skuce, Energy Campaigner, 250-877-7762
Tagged with: enbridge, northern gateway, forestethics
