Dawson Creek agricultural land owner loses pipeline permit appeal

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — A tribunal has rejected a Dawson Creek land owner’s application to overturn a permit issued for a sour gas pipeline built on her property. 

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) allowed Vermilion Energy in December 2024 to build the pipeline — which carries gas containing hydrogen sulfide — on Dorothee Huenseler’s land, 33 kilometres from Dawson Creek, within the Agricultural Land Reserve in December 2024.

Huenseler appealed because she said BCER did not give due consideration to her submissions.

Vermilion notified Huenseler in April 2024 of its intention to apply for a permit to install the pipeline. Huenseler, who lives in Germany, appointed Aspen Grove Properties as her agent.

Aspen Grove told the BCER in September 2024 that she opposed Vermilion because the land is used for agricultural purposes, there are soil erosion issues on the southwest corner and water management concerns elsewhere. She also suggested an alternate route be considered. 

The Energy Resource Appeal Tribunal (ERAT) panel chair Jeffrey Hand’s February 18th decision said Vermilion maintained the “selected route minimized the amount of land to be disturbed by using the shortest, most direct route through the property, bearing in mind the need to connect the pipeline to existing infrastructure located to the south of the property.”

Vermilion did ponder an alternative route, along the property’s western boundary, but that would have meant a longer pipeline and more land disturbance, it said.

Two additional crossings of existing rights-of-way would have been required. 

Hand concluded BCER gave due consideration to Huensler’s submissions, so he dismissed her action.