Kinder Morgan is collecting soil samples by the Trans Mountain pipeline right-of-way, close to Stoney Creek Community School, testing for hydrocarbons at the request of the Burnaby school district.
The testing started Monday, July 15, and the results won't be ready for several weeks. Trans Mountain's Lisa Clement said the results will be provided to the school board, but it's not clear if they will be available to the public.
Clement said the testing is taking place on the Trans Mountain right-ofway, northeast of Stoney Creek Community School on Beaverbook Crescent.
School district communications manager Jodie Wilson said there were no specific concerns that prompted the testing and that the district is pleased that Kinder Morgan is following up with the request.
Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline has been running oil from Alberta to the West Coast since the early 1950s.
According to Kinder Morgan, the pipeline's right-of-way runs through two elementary school district properties: Stoney Creek and Forest Grove. The right-of-way is adjacent to the school grounds, and at Stoney Creek, it runs out front of the school under a community garden. The pipeline does not run beneath any school buildings, as construction above the line is forbidden.
Kinder Morgan wants to twin the existing line, nearly tripling capacity, but so far the company has put forward routing options that do not follow the existing right-of-way close to the elementary schools.
