[IPSM] Oil pipeline proposed near FSJ

[Macdonald Stainsby]

   Introductory rant by Macdonald Stainsby

This closes the ring on the destruction of Dene Land, environmental 
devastation in Denendeh & separately (but connected) north "Alberta" 
with the disastrous tar sands oil project near Fort MacMurray, and now 
through unceded lands in "BC". It's all connected, just follow the 
pipelines...

Macdonald
---
Oil pipeline proposed near FSJ

       A proposed pipeline running from Edmonton to a new marine 
terminal on the West Coast would run just south of Fort St. James.

       Company officials from Enbridge Inc. were unable to give the 
Courier details about how close the pipeline would be to the town by 
press time.

       The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) has raised some concerns 
about the pipeline.

       "The Chiefs are unanimous in their decision to call on Patrick 
Daniel, Enbridge president and chief executive officer, to forego any 
studies this field season unless the company is willing to complete 
negotiations with the tribal council on a statement of understanding," 
Tribal Chief Harry Pierre said in a press release.

       CSTC wants a Statement of Understanding in place with Enbridge 
that will govern all preliminary activities as they relate to their 
interests, including other matters important to an emerging relationship 
with the company, the press release went on.

       "Although we certainly respect First Nations, at the same time 
all the land we're accessing is Crown land," says Enbridge official 
D'Arcy Levesque.

       Levesque says the company has begun very preliminary field 
studies. "We're gathering data to determine the best possible route," he 
said.

       District of Fort St. James mayor Jim Togyi is reserving his 
judgment on the pipeline.

       "I can't comment until I know what it's about."

       Togyi says the company readily agreed to come talk to council and 
hopes it will happen sometime early in September.

       Levesque, vice-president for public and government affairs at 
Enbridge, says the company has been planning the pipeline for quite a 
few years.

       "We're committed to opening secondary markets for Canada's 
oilsands," Levesque said.

       The oilsands in Alberta's north are expected to dramatically 
increase their output in the next five years.

       The pipeline would deliver oil to tankers on the coast and bring 
condensate - used to dilute heavy oil - to Edmonton.

       Both pipes would be buried Levesque said.

       Enbridge is working to ensure communities would benefit from the 
pipeline.

       He said 2,000 temporary jobs would be created during the project, 
and the company would work to involve local communities.

       Copyright 2003 fort


-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
    --Bertholt Brecht.