Raincoast

The oil spill in Vancouver harbour two weeks ago on April 17 was an eye opener for many of us. While there were bureaucratic issues that delayed the cleanup of this latest spill, once notified, cleanup crews were quite efficient and the overall management was, I believe, well handled. However, it was a rude awakening to the potential dangers of transporting oil and gas through sensitive waters.

Working in the marine industry, I have witnessed small-scale fuel and oil spills and can attest to how terrifying they appear to be. One litre of oil can cover up to one kilometer of the ocean’s surface, making even a small accident look like a catastrophe. While diesel and petrol spills usually evaporate relatively quickly, oil, and especially heavy crude like was pumped out into vancouver harbour, is far more difficult to contain and clean. Even the most well-maintained vessels leak fuel, oil, coolant and a host of other hazardous materials into the ocean. The same is true for pipelines and natural gas installations. It is an unfortunate fact of these heavy industries on which we rely for energy and global trade.

With three proposed oil and gas projects slated for the BC coast, this incident serves as a reminder of the potential for disaster. For me, the proposed LNG plant and export station at the defunct Woodfibre pulp and paper mill in Howe Sound is a perfect example of the type of project that should be waving red flags for the people of Vancouver after this latest oil spill. The area surrounding the Woodfibre mill at the mouth of the Squamish River, was once one of the ten most polluted places on the planet. Pulp mill effluent and tailings from the adjacent Britannia copper mine were dumped into the ocean at a volume of millions of gallons each day. Only now, nearly 60 years after these mills and mines were shut down, has any sort of marine life returned to the area. The proposed LNG plant, among other issues, would pump 3.4 million litres of sea water into its reactors for cooling, returning it to the ocean ten degrees warmer and chlorinated. Each day. The impact would be tremendous, and that is simply for the normal functioning of the plant, without any incidents.

Even if there were no incidents and the ecosystem was resilient enough to withstand the dramatic changes to the temperature and chemical composition of sea water, the issue I find most troubling is where the natural gas is extracted in the first place. In B.C, our natural gas reserves originate from shale. But if an industry of LNG export is created, the demand for the raw gas will increase beyond shale capacity, likely leading to an increase in the practice of fracking in order to meed demand.

While the latest Vancouver oil spill was indeed troubling, perhaps it is a blessing in disguise. The media attention it received will hopefully have inspired the population to be cautious of expanding oil and gas exports, and be weary of the potential consequences to one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world.

Tags: No Comments