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Oil spill worries dominate meeting

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Around 350 people came out to the REM Lee Theatre last night to hear panellists speak of their perspectives on the Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project.

Pipeline bursts and tanker spills were the main topics raised last night at a forum held to discuss Enbridge's $5.5 billion Northern Gateway pipeline project.

Approximately 350 people were in the REM Lee Theatre listening to four panelists' viewpoints on the project that would involve one pipeline to transport Alberta oil to a marine terminal at Kitimat and a twin pipeline to import a thinner to make it easier to pump the oil.

Kitsumkalum treaty negotiator Gerald Wesley was supposed to attend but was replaced after a death occurred in the family. Kitselas chief councillor Glenn Bennett spoke instead, followed by the mayor of Dawson Creek, Mike Bernier, Greg Brown of the Northwest Institute of Bioregional Research, and Enbridge official Morgan Yates.

The floor was then open to the public for questions to the panellists.

A few questions went to Bernier about the economic benefits his community received from being in the oil and gas industry, as well as the impact on the community.

Some questions went to Bennett in regards to environmental impacts and possible monetary gains.

But the majority of the questions went to Yates or Brown, and circled around impacts to the environment if the pipeline and marine terminal were to be constructed.

Yates was also drilled about Enbridge's supposed refusal to pay compensation in some cases out after one of its pipelines burst in Michigan, spilling oil into the Kalamazoo River.

Enbridge had said its pipeline was built to government specifications.

“I need to refute those findings,” Yates said of reports outlining lawsuits filed against Enbridge.

“We are responsible for the spill from the rupture of Line 6B, and...as a company, although we're very proud of our record over 60 years of history, we are humbled, and we were humbled by the Line 6B incident. We take responsibility for that. Our president was down there and said we would make it right, and we will be there until we do make it right.”

Yates, who is the director of community relations and aboriginal affairs for Enbridge and an engineer of 30 years, also pointed out that there have been significant improvements in pipeline technology and said there is a whole host of safety measures in place.

But Yates stopped short of outlining Enbridge's responsibilities once oil is pumped into ocean-going tankers.

If spills occur in a marine environment, there is an international and Canadian fund for marine spills, he said.

“We as a pipeline operator are responsible for any liability associated with respect to the pipeline or terminal,” he said. “The liability in respect to the marine spill rests with the tanker.”

Both the Friends of Wild Salmon and Enbridge had booths in the lobby.

Northern Gateway Alliance chair Colin Kinsley was present. He's a former Prince George mayor, now heading the Enbridge-financed group which favours the Northern Gateway.

Also present were almost a dozen Enbridge communications officials, on hand to answer any questions before the meeting began.

A couple of uniformed police officers were visible during the meeting, but at most there was only light heckling from the crowd after some of Yates' answers.

The meeting was co-sponsored by the City of Terrace, the Terrace Economic Development Authority and the Terrace and District Labour Council.

Enbridge had initially refused a city invitation to participate in the session but agreed after assurances were made that the session would be orderly.