LandKeepers News Archive
Pipeline Project Advisory Board Touchy Subject for Regional District
April 01 2010 | News ArticlesPipeline News | 250 News
Prince George, B.C.- While the Enbridge Northern Gateway twin pipeline project is a long way from a reality, Enbridge has put out a call for communities to join their project Advisory Board.
That has struck a nerve with some on the Regional District of Fraser Fort George. Board Chair, Art Kaehn is concerned what the public perception might be over Enbridge paying the expenses for those who attend meetings. His concern about perception was echoed by others who believe having a Regional Board rep on the Advisory Board might be perceived as the Regional Board giving the pipeline some level of approval. Director Dan Rogers says it should be the responsibility of the proponent of a project to pay the bills, “Why should anyone else incur costs over something the proponent wants to do?”
Alternate Director Cameron Stolz says this is an opportunity for the Regional District to hear what’s going on “We ran to be elected so we could change things from the inside, We can have an impact on the plans for the pipeline if we are on the inside.”
Director Dan Rogers says there are already several people attending the Advisory Board meetings who are adamantly opposed to the project, so he doesn’t see how having a Regional District rep attend the meetings could be viewed as support.
While Rogers would have liked to have had fellow Director Terry Burgess, (the Director for Electoral Area G) bring back reports to the Regional District, Burgess won’t hear of it. He already attends the meetings but only with the interests of his Electoral Area in mind. “This pipeline is totally in my area, it’s going o be crossing the Crooked River on stilts or some damn thing. I’m going to be there to speak my piece.”
In the end, Director Rogers agreed to bring back to the Regional District issues that are discussed at the meetings, and will, if the Board so directs, deliver the Regional Board’s concerns to the Advisory Board. Chair Art Kaehn wants it to be clear that any expenses incurred to attend the meetings will be covered by the Regional District.
The Enbridge Pipeline project proposes a twin pipeline that would have one line carrying tar sands oil from Bruderheim Alberta to the coast for loading on a tanker. The other line would carry condensate from the coast back to Bruderheim.
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