Trans Mountain pipeline opponents critical of latest energy board review

Trans Mountain pipeline opponents critical of latest energy board review
CHEK

File photo courtesy CBC.

File photo courtesy CBC.

Trans Mountain pipeline opponents say future court challenges are likely coming because of flaws with the National Energy Board’s (NEB) latest review of the project’s marine shipping effects.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs says the project is a “stinker” that will worsen climate change and Indigenous leaders in B.C. are threatening court challenges to the review.

Grand Chief Philip Stewart says expanding the pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby will worsen climate change, which is already contributing to devastating wildfires and floods in the province.

Chief Lee Spahan of the Coldwater Nation near Merritt said the second review does not amount to meaningful consultation because of a short timeline.

The federal government purchased the Trans Mountain project from Kinder Morgan for $4.5 billion in March.

Kinder Morgan threatened to walk away from the project because opposition from the B.C. government, environmental and First Nations groups delayed construction.

In August, the Federal Court of Appeal indefinitely suspended the project by overturning construction permits.

The ruling said Ottawa didn’t properly consult with First Nations and there were holes in the NEB’s review of the pipeline’s impact on the marine environment, including B.C.’s endangered southern resident killer whale population.

West Coast Environmental Law says the NEB seems to have learned nothing from the court ruling and is repeating the same errors that the appeals court saw two months ago.

The federal government ordered the board to have another environmental review completed by Feb. 22, but Kung says it is rushed and too limited in scope.

With files from the Canadian Press.

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