A public information meeting organized by concerned citizens will be held next Wednesday, April 11 in Abbotsford to discuss the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus, 33844 King Rd.
Speakers include John Vissers, board member with Zero Waste BC and Abbotsford community activist; Eddie Gardner, member of the Skwah First Nation; Rueben George, Sundance chief and member of the Tsleil Waututh Nation; Mary Forstbauer, president of the Organic Growers’ Association of BC; and Ben West of the Wilderness Committee.
Kinder Morgan is proposing to double the capacity of its Trans Mountain Pipeline, running from Edmonton to Vancouver and including Abbotsford.
Although the line has an existing right-of-way, environmental reviews and regulatory approval, consent of First Nations is required before anything can move through.
Meeting organizers say they are concerned about tar sands being transported along the line and the increased risk of spills.
In January of this year, a 110,000-litre spill was reported at the tank farm on Sumas Mountain in Abbotsford. The spill, which is still under investigation by authorities, was contained to the Kinder Morgan property.
In 2005, a rupture was detected in the pipeline on the north side of Ward Road in Abbotsford. A total of 210,000 litres of crude oil was released into the surrounding area, and made its way into Kilgard Creek.