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Lets put aside for a second, the fact that Kinder Morgan wants to twin their Trans Mountain oil pipeline through the valley. It’s the current pipeline that a group of concerned citizens has a problem with, more specifically, what’s flowing through it. The line has been carrying crude oil from Alberta since the 50s, but just recently, they started transporting a substance called bitumen from the tar sands, which is said to be far more toxic and corrosive. Michael Hale with the Pipe Up Network says there was a bitumen spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2010.
“Kalamazoo is a city about the size of Chilliwack. They have an old pipeline…not as old as ours…it’s only about 40 yrs old, ours is 59. That pipeline burst and they still haven’t got it cleaned up 2 yrs later.”
He says a bitumen spill would be far worse than a regular oil spill.
“The pipeline goes over the aquifer and under our rivers and streams and past our schoolyards…basically right through our backyards. Just how risky is this? What we’re reading is pretty alarming. They’re talking about consultations about twinning the pipeline. We’d like some consultation about the current situation. I’d love for Mr. Kinder to fly in and have a chat with us about this. We’d have some questions for him.”
His group wants to let the public know more about bitumen. They’re showing a movie called “White Water, Black Gold” tonight at 6:30 at Sardis Secondary, followed by a Q&A. Hale says they’re not putting out any petitions, but are asking that you write your local government if you have concerns.