The Hope
Standard Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014
news@hopestandard.com
2013 BCYCNA
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NEW PROGRAM FOR FIRST NATIONS YOUTH
Initiative will connect young people with skills training and jobs
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PROVINCE UNVEILS BALANCED BUDGET
Tobacco tax slated to increase 32 cents a pack on April 1
BARRY STEWART / THE STANDARD
Eye on the target
Evan Empey releases his rock to sweepers Tom DeSorcy (left) and John Linza, during a Thursday match in last week’s B.C. Firefighters’ Provincial Playdowns at the Hope Curling Club. Al Trick skipped this team to a second-place finish in the ‘A’ Event. Hope’s other entry, skipped by Don Wiens, won second place in the ‘D’ Event. For more on the event, see page 11.
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STÉPHANE DION IS COMING TO HOPE
The former federal Liberal Party leader will meet with town council
INSIDE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community . . . . . . . 8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classifieds . . . . . 13 $
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Concerns raised over pipeline expansion Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
Hope has applied for intervenor status in the upcoming National Energy Board hearings for Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline project. The district wants to ensure the municipality’s water resources are protected, and in particular the area of Nestlé Waters. “We have an interest in what exactly they are going to be doing coming through our community,” said Coun. Peter Robb. “(We applied) basically to keep us and staff well-informed of all the updates and knowledge.” Trans Mountain maintains about
16.7 kilometres of pipeline within the District of Hope, and any leak or spill of the existing pipeline could pose serious risk to the water supply. The existing pipeline is just feet away from a natural spring on Nestlé’s property and 175 metres from the east Kawkawa Lake well. It is also 219 metres away from the district’s Green well. The proposed new route involves utilizing the area next to or including the existing Spectra Energy right-of-way south of Othello Road, or along Othello Road itself. The exact route is yet to be confirmed but the proposal should see the new pipeline placed further away from Nestlé and Hope’s two wells.
The district would prefer the new pipeline constructed along the most southern route. The NEB hearings are slated to take place in Calgary later this year and could cost Hope upwards of $2,000 to attend and present. The NEB will consider the appropriateness of the general route and land requirements for the project, as well as the contingency planning for spill, accidents or malfunctions during construction and operation of the project. Individuals and groups directly affected by Kinder Morgan’s expansion project had until noon on Feb. 12 to submit an application to act either as intervenor, or to provide
written comment, to the NEB during their review of Kinder Morgan’s facilities application. The company has applied to twin their existing 60-year-old Edmonton to Burnaby pipeline at a cost of $5.4 billion, nearly tripling Kinder Morgan’s carrying capacity along the route. At a special Fraser Valley Regional District board meeting last Tuesday night, directors debated what pipeline issues are of most concern to them, the cost of applying for intervenor status, and whether such an application would overlap with those that member municipalities are making on their own. Continued on 3
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