106th Year - Week 40
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
www.interior-news.com
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Money raised to date:
$193,120 GOAL
$400,000 NEW ARENA DONATIONS
Pro-Tech Forest Resources: $5,000 ($10,100 total)
LAWNMOWER MAN
SEEING THE WORLD 204 Babine Sea Cadet Zach Fitzpatrick travels to South Korea.
COMMUNITY/A13
Canadian hip-hop artist Madchild performed for fans of all ages at the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre on Friday. Madchild played two shows, with special guests, in support of his new release Lawnmower Man. Ryan Jensen photo
HOCKEY ACADEMY Smithers Secondary expands popular program.
SPORTS/B2
INSIDE LETTERS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN SPORTS THREE RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS
A7 A10 A13 B1 C1 C4
Landowners fume over oil-by-rail plan By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News
Terry Charter and Sylvia Sommer are “mad as hell” the federal government is even considering shipping oil by rail through the Bulkley Valley. Last week, Greenpeace revealed they had obtained a federal government briefing note that shows a high level of interest in shipping oil to Asia by rail through the port of
Prince Rupert. The note was prepared by Lisanne Baznet of the Petroleum Resources Branch for the Natural Resources Canada deputy minister in preparation for a March 1, 2013 meeting with CN to discuss the idea. On Feb. 21, 2012, 46 loaded CN Rail coal cars derailed beside Charter and Sommer’s 160-acre property located on MoriceTelkwa Forest Service Rd., 16 kms west of Houston. The train tracks sit 200 feet from
the couple’s property boundary. Sommer was at home that afternoon when she heard a train engine blowing its horn. Seconds later she heard the deafening sound of crashing metal. It wasn’t long before CN rail officials were asking for permission to go through their property to reach the derailment site to begin the mitigation work. “They were there pretty darn quick,” Sommer said. “It was like the
army descended,” Charter said. “There were pieces of heavy equipment, trucks, vehicles, for a mile either way within 24 hours. They ripped up our whole field to get to the derailment.” No one was injured in the incident and B.C. environmental officers said it appeared that no coal or train debris had impacted a nearby creek or the Bulkley River. The rail line was reopened within about 36 hours. The derailment
has really opened up Charter and Sommer’s eyes, they said, to just how precarious a position residents of the area are in when it comes to dangerous goods shipped being by rail through the area. Both wildlife and people will be negatively impacted, all for the sake of the “almighty dollar,” Charter said. For the record, the two are also vehemently opposed to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline. Prince Rupert
Lilydale Utility Turkeys Friday Only!
see page A-16
Port Authority’s manager of corporate communications Michael Gurney confirmed discussions around shipping oil from Prince Rupert have taken place with the Chinese energy giant. “Nexen has been, and continues to be, in conversation with the Prince Rupert Port Authority for a possible oil-by-rail solution,” Gurney said. “But at this point, that is strictly conversation.” See RAIL on A9
.99 /lb
7 - 9 / 9 - 11 kg Limit 1 per family purchase 2.18 kg