Vancouver (Canada) has recently joined other cities in challenging the National Energy Boardº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s (NEB) recommendation to approve Kinder Morganº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s CAN$6.8 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
Vancouverº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s Mayor, Gregor Robertson, stated that the NEB had disregarded key evidence that demonstrates the potential damage to the regional waters should an oil spill occur, as well as the impact an additional or expanded pipeline would have on greenhouse gas emissions.Robertson stated: º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍøœThe NEB failed to properly and thoroughly consult local communities on the pipeline and tanker route, ignoring key pieces of scientific evidence showing the potential for real and catastrophic damage to local waters in the event of an oil spill, and the impact of an expanded pipeline on greenhouse gas emissions both locally and abroad. Vancouver still has significant concerns about Kinder Morganº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s expansion and weº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™ve concluded itº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s simply not worth the risk to our environment or economy.º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø
He concluded by noting that º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍøœan expanded Kinder Morgan pipeline is not in Vancouver or Canadaº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s economic or environmental interest.º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø
The city wrote, in its statement to the Federal Court of Appeal, that the NEB º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍøœexcluded any opportunities for oral cross-examination of experts and evidence; provided inadequate information sharing; and failed to properly consult affected communities along the pipeline and tanker route.º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø
Additionally, Vancouver has requested that the federal government not make a decision on the pipeline project until the NEB carried out a lawful review.
The NEB has not commented on the cityº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s application. Additionally, a decision from the court has not yet been made.
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