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Sentinel
Northern
Years est. 1954
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 60 No. 43
PTP won’t convert to an oil pipeline Cameron Orr As news reports surfaced last Thursday regarding a ‘leaked’ letter that purported to show that the Pacific Trail Pipeline could be sold to an oil or bitumen transport company, Chevron responded quickly saying information being released was inaccurate. Gillian Robinson with Chevron’s external communications says that the only way the PTP pipeline — which is proposed to supply the Kitimat LNG project if it reaches a construction stage — could be sold to any company with an interest in oil transportation would be if every member of the First Nations Limited Partnership tied to the pipeline agreed to such a change. The FNLP is an association of First Nations who have signed on to an economic benefit deal with Chevron regarding the natural gas pipeline, making them partners in the project. Reports surfaced on October 16 from Vice. com that a letter from Chevron vice-president Rod Maier was leaked from the Moricetown band that showed the company wanted permission to be able to sell the PTP pipeline to companies seeking permits to build oil pipelines. A news release issued from the Moricetown band in August this year in fact counters the whole claim, saying that the band and Chief, and members of the Wet’swuet’en Hereditary Chiefs, “have secured commitments from officials of the Province of British Columbia, Chevron Canada Limited, Apache Canada Ltd., and the First Nations Group Limited Partnership that no oil will be transported in the proposed natural gas Pacific Trail Pipeline Project owned by Chevron and Apache.” Fifteen First Nations have signed on to the FNLP, but as of now the Moricetown band has not signed on as the 16th member, which would cover all the affected First Nations on the route. “That information [in media reports] is really muddled,” said Robinson. “But there is an agreement with Chevron and the Moricetown band that we will not convert the pipeline to an oil pipeline.” She further added that the PTP line has “never been designed to transport oil,” and will be needed for at least 20 years if constructed to supply Kitimat LNG. She also added that it won’t be possible to convert the PTP line to a bitumen pipeline without an entirely new regulatory process, which includes consultation with First Nations. “This means any company with plans to use the PTP as an oil pipeline would have to start back at square one,” she said. “There have never been any plans nor are there any future plans to convert the PTP to an oil pipeline.”
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
$
It’s only a drill. Students at Kildala Elementary School dive under their desks during a ShakeOut BC, province-wide earthquake drill. Students spent 60 seconds protecting themselves from the fictional earthquake.
Camp bylaw gets industry attention might be he wasn’t specific on particular conCameron Orr cerns. Amendments to the M1 Manufacturing Zone “For a project like us we look at all the costs bylaw has the attention of industry, or at least “We’re that are involved in developing our project and Chevron, who encouraged the District of Kitimat prepared to we would need to understand exactly how those to continue working at any changes before adopwork closely costs may affect our decision making going fortion. ward,” he said. Council has been working on amendments with the He was also asked how potential upcoming which would formalize density bonuses for work planning staff legislation regarding LNG taxes from the provcamps attached to projects. ince could play in to their requests on this bylaw Namely, in the proposed amendments, camps to continue but Molinski said he doesn’t see a relationship with up to 2,000 beds would have to pay $500 per developing between the two. bed, with that money going towards the local afa housing Council opted to adjourn the bylaw to Nofordable housing fund. vember 3. Kitimat LNG Team Lead Dave Molinksi, solution and public hearings on this matter first bespeaking at the October 6 public hearing for the strategy for the gan The in March, and Kitimat staff did recommend bylaw, said there could be issues with the bylaw as community.” further adjourning until November. proposed and said he worried about potential imThat’s because the elusive Housing Action pacts to the community. Plan commissioned by the province still has not “We’ve indicated we’re prepared to work been completed and publicly released. Staff felt closely with the planning staff to continue developing a housing solution and strategy for the community,” he information in that study could be useful in formulating a bonusing structure for temporary housing like camps. It is hoped said. When asked about what unintended consequences there the report will be released by the time of the next hearing.
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