Explosions of molten crude? Plumes of poisonous sulphur dioxide? Widespread forest fires, and tens of thousands trapped at Simon Fraser University?
These are just some of the worst-case scenarios raised by SFU’s consultants and the local fire department in respect to the proposed Kinder Morgan’s tank farm expansion.
One reason we’re hearing so many concerns lately is because intervenors in the National Energy Board hearing filed their evidence on Wednesday, so there is a flurry of these damning reports.
One common complaint from both SFU and the local fire department is that Kinder Morgan has not supplied sufficient information for the existing tank farm – we’re not even talking about the expansion yet.
That’s right. The Burnaby Fire Department is still waiting for fire pre-plans – for the current tank farm – plans that would provide detailed information on how, exactly, the company would handle a major fire at the oil storage facility.
You mean to tell us no one has figured this out yet?
Meanwhile, SFU’s has no plan for a major tank farm fire or spill because the university still needs more information from Kinder Morgan.
Kinder Morgan has pointed out that there has never been a major fire in the six decades the tank farm has been operating, and while that may be reassuring for some, worst-case scenarios need proper planning.
What we find alarming is there are problems now. The tank farm is close to a residential neighbourhood, an elementary school and SFU, and yet there’s no clear understanding as to who would handle a major fire.
The Burnaby Fire Department has put the company on notice that it will have to handle its own fires onsite.
How can you build on a pipeline system – twin the line, triple the tank farm capacity and expand the marine dock – when you haven’t addressed major fire safety concerns, which have been outstanding for at least a year?
If Kinder Morgan wants us to believe all the PR hype about their safety record moving forward, they need to get their house in order now, before even thinking about an expansion.
That means bending over backwards to get SFU and the fire department all the information they need to properly plan, because if that worst-case scenario were to hit tomorrow, people’s lives would be at serious risk, which is just unacceptable.
