B.C. Government formally states opposition to Kinder Morgan pipeline

VICTORIA, B.C. — Often accused of being too oil and gas industry friendly, the BC government is formally coming out against the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.

Although an official provincial news release says the Liberals will continue to evaluate the project, based on the company’s ability to meet five previously stated government requirements, Environment Minister Mary Polak has told the Vancouver Sun a final submission to the National Energy Board urges it not to approve the project.

Four years ago, the Clark Government laid out the five conditions for approval of any pipeline project, and it believes Kinder Morgan has failed to meet conditions to develop “world-leading” prevention and response plans to address a land or water spill.

Although Lake didn’t name the second project, any guess other than the Northern Gateway pipeline of Enbridge is almost assuredly wrong — and by challenging another of the industries giants, the largest energy infrastructure company in North America, the Clark government has sent shock waves across the province.

The $6.8 billion Trans-Mountain proposal calls for Kinder Morgan to twin the existing pipeline from the Alberta oil sands region to Burnaby, which would nearly triple its shipment capacity to about 890,000 of crude oil a day.

However, the Houston based company has also been cited by the U.S. government in 24 incidents which led to five federal enforcement actions from 2006 to 2014.