Pipeline battle heats up

Gail Sjuberg
Gulf Islands Driftwood
Tuesday, October 30, 2001

Last Tuesday's Salt Spring meeting on the GSX public hearing process gave a not-so-subtle hint of the battle to come as concerns about the natural gas pipeline project bubbled over the meeting's main focus.

Some people were eager for more specific information about the project itself, but the gathering's purpose was to explain how the public can give input to a three-member panel appointed to review the environmentally contentious project.

Co-sponsored by the National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), the meeting saw about 20 islanders grill staff from the Joint Review Panel's secretariat on not only the public hearing process, but the B.C. Hydro-led project itself.

Long-time island resident Ron Stacey didn't waste any time expressing his suspicions about Hydro's stated case for pushing the Georgia Strait pipeline option over upgrading of submarine cables already in place.

"I've been subjected to propaganda for a long time and I recognize propaganda with some skill, and I feel we're being conned here," he said. "I'm not necessarily an environmentalist or against the pipeline . . . but I don't buy B.C. Hydro's rationale for building it."

GSX is a joint venture of B.C. Hydro and an American company. The plan is to fuel co-generation plants on Vancouver Island with natural gas most likely from northeast B.C. GSX proposes to build a pipeline to carry the gas from Sumas, Washington and across Georgia Strait (near Saturna, Pender and Salt Spring islands) to an existing Centra Gas transmission system in Shawnigan Lake.

Chairing the Harbour House Hotel meeting was Albert Fung. He was assisted by Judith Hanebury, legal counsel for the NEB, and Paul Scott, regional CEAA director, who will decide how the CEAA's $100,000 "Participant Funding Program" pie can be sliced and distributed.

Members of the public raised concerns about the pipeline's impact on the south Salt Spring shoreline and the marine ecological reserve, pollution from the co-generation plants fuelled by natural gas, and whether it didn't make more sense to repair existing submarine cables bringing electricity to the islands from the mainland.

Anne Humphries said the pipeline proposal had struck fear into islanders and called the issue "a sleeping giant," adding, "I don't know what this will rouse in a Gulf Islands community."

Kim Hoban expressed frustration with the lengthy process leading to the time for official public input and discussion about the pipeline.

"Let's just talk about it and not have 15 preliminary meetings," she said.

Fung replied that none of the previous meetings were wasted effort, since they resulted in the NEB asking federal Environment Minister David Anderson to refer the project to a more stringent joint panel review for environmental assessment.

Several people wanted clarification of a rumour that another co-generation plant fuelled by pipeline gas and located south of Duncan is being considered.

Fung said he had no more information than others reading the media reports about it.

The plants themselves have been stirring up controversy with the co-gen plant in Campbell River having various troubles, and another one proposed for Port Alberni facing community and city council opposition.

Hanebury pointed out that approval for co-generation plants is the under provincial government authority.

Fung encouraged members of the public to submit letters of comment about the pipeline project as soon as possible, even if the deadline for filing letters was not several months into the future. The sooner letters are sent, the more time the panel will have to investigate focal points of concern.

He also noted people were not restricted to sending one letter.

To be eligible for funding, groups or individuals must demonstrate "an interest in the project's potential environmental effects" and show that their input will contribute to the panel's investigation of the potential environmental effects of the proposed projects."

Expenses funded include fees for expert advice, research staff and secretarial service costs; travel expenses; and purchase of relevant information materials.

The Islands Trust intends to apply for funding.

The meeting also heard how the panel had wide latitude to determine what topics will be examined, including whether or not B.C. Hydro really needs the pipeline to meet Vancouver Island power demands, and to consider alternative forms of energy production.

Panel members are Elizabeth Quarshie and Rowland Harrison of the National Energy Board, and Bryan Williams, a retired chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court.

Key dates for getting involved are as follows:

A "Directions on Procedure" document will be issued November 8. It will contain more specific information on how the public hearing process and panel's review will unfold.

Letters of input can be sent now to Michele Mantha, Joint Panel Review, GSX Project, 444 Seventh Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0X8.

Groups and individuals wanting to apply for intervenor status and funding available through the CEAA have until November 29 to do so.

Hanebury suggested various groups might want to join together and make a single application for funding.

In January 2002, the panel will hold public consultation sessions.

A formal oral public hearing will take place sometime in May. Specific locations for the January and May events will be announced.

According to NEB public affairs officer Ross Hicks, some 226 people attended meetings in Sidney and Cobble Hill, and on Salt Spring, Pender and Saturna islands. The largest crowd was at Cobble Hill (120), where the pipeline is set to come ashore and opposition to the plan is mobilized.

See Page 24 for a report on the North Pender gathering held Friday and website addresses.

http://www.gulfislands.net/news.asp?ID=809

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