With a decision on the proposed Trans Mountain expansion project expected any day now, Simon Fraser University has forwarded the natural resources minister a new report that shows expanding the Burnaby Mountain tank farm would pose “significant” health risks to the SFU community.
The report, prepared by PGL Environmental Consultants, concludes that increasing the number of tanks, placing them closer together and increasing the volume of diluted bitumen will increase the risks of accidents, fires and exposure to toxic chemicals.
“I think the risks to SFU are unique because it‘s not only the tank farm per se, but it’s the impact it could have on cutting off access to the whole top of the mountain and isolating us,” SFU president Andrew Petter told the NOW. “If there were an emergency, often you would expect that the first response would be to evacuate people. Obviously if there’s a serious emergency at the tank farm and it cuts off access to the road, evacuation does not become a realistic possibility, and that itself is a risk.”
SFU has been raising concerns about expanding the tank farm for the last two years. It was one of the intervenors during the National Energy Board hearings and a presenter during the ministerial panel meetings this summer.
“We commissioned this report to try to pull all the risks that have been discussed,” said Petter. “We said throughout, that any increase to the health and safety of the community resolving from the expansion would not be acceptable. I wanted minister (James) Carr to know we do object to the proposal to expand the tank farm and why we do so in very clear terms, with all of the evidence in front of him, and hopefully, in front of cabinet.”
The report also suggests the health and safety risks of the expansion have not been adequately addressed.
“(The Trans Mountain Expansion Project) has not made public the characterization of potential accidents or malfunctions. This means that SFU cannot adequately plan for the safety of the community on Burnaby Mountain,” the document reads.
“That itself is something that is deeply concerning to us because as much as we know there are significant risks, it’s very hard to evaluate how well they can be mitigated without further information,” Petter said.
He added if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approves the Kinder Morgan pipeline, he’d like to see an alternative to the tank farm expansion.
In previous interviews, Trans Mountain has said its number one concern is for the safety of the public, its employees, its neighbours and the security and safety of its operations.
"Since announcing the proposed project in 2012, we've been discussing all aspects of the project, including safety in the community around our facility through public information sessions, workshops, conversations and meetings with our neighbours," according to a statement by the company.
The federal government has until Dec. 19 to make a decision on the project.
