Kwantlen Nation stunned to learn of Kinder Morgan drilling

Members of Kwantlen First Nation in Langley were surprised to discover that Kinder Morgan had just wrapped up one week of Burnaby-Mountain-style borehole drilling on their traditional territory.

The southwest B.C. aboriginal community, an hour's drive from Vancouver, held a press conference to raise alarm about the drilling activity that appeared to come without notice.

“There was absolutely no communication whatsoever,” said band member Brandon Gabriel on Thursday.

"It’s speaks volumes to how they do business," he added. "The fact they keep changing the markers of where they do test drilling speaks volumes to the underhanded nature of their business practice."

The lack of communication about the drilling left many Kwantlen believing the Texas-based company is attempting to be secretive to avoid protests.

About 70 people, including the Kwantlen chief and band councillors, held the protest just metres from where the borehole drilling took place near the Belmont Golf Course.

Kinder Morgan said Thursday it dug 30 metre deep boreholes near the Salmon River, and on Rawlison Crescent.

"The sites are both on private property, not municipal lands," wrote a company spokesperson.

Gabriel told the crowd the band only found out about the drilling through social media and from a salmon conservation group that contacted them to let them know.

The Salmon River Enhancement Society, a non-profit water stewardship charity, noticed the Kinder Morgan drillers in recent days, and took photos. The company work crews appeared to have wrapped up on Monday.

Kinder Morgan said it received permission from the Township of Langley and the private landowners where the drilling took place. But a local resident said the people need to be informed too.

"The township did not make the citizens aware. That's a problem," said Shane Dyson, who attended the rally, and lives nearby.

"This will be going on in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, across the Fraser Valley where they'll be doing their drill testing."

"We need to have citizen oversight," he added.

The company declined to state where else it will conduct further borehole testing, but it is widely believed to be going on throughout the Lower Fraser Valley.

The company is seeking to understand the underground geology all along the 1,000-kilometre-plus pipeline route between Edmonton and Burnaby.

Kwantlen Elder Farley Antone said his people have long been opposed to the company's incursions into Kwantlen lands and waterways.

“A few years ago, when we were first introduced to Kinder Morgan...I had four words for them."

"Over my dead body," said the Elder, to cheers from the crowd.

Kwantlen members also expressed frustration that the National Energy Board's recent Aboriginal oral hearing in Chillwack did not allow for any critical questioning of the company's project.

Kinder Morgan's lawyer infamously asked the band at that hearing if the community still eats fish.

Below is Kinder Morgan's full response to a request for information about the drilling:

More About the Work in Langley Township:

• Trans Mountain completed geotechnical testing in two locations: near Salmon River and on Rawlison Crescent. The sites are both on private property, not municipal lands.
  
• On completion of the geotechnical studies, we will work with the landowner to appropriately remediate the area
  
• Trans Mountain provided notified the Township of Langley of work and received.
  
• We are conducting these studies to continue to develop detailed engineering on our proposed expansion corridor and further seismic assessments.
  
• Core samples obtained will help determine subsurface geology and inform our detailed engineering and construction methodology in the area
  
• This work will be similar to studies conducted in other route communities where additional data is required and the drilling of geotechnical boreholes is a standard and common practice in urban areas
  
• Langley Township staff met with Trans Mountain at the drill site location to address concerns and ask questions about the work

Technical details of Geotechnical Studies in Langley:

• The work was completed by a portable track mounted drill rig
  
• The holes were approximately 1 to 2 meters apart
  
• The bore holes are aprox. 4 inches in diameter, and 30 m deep
  
• The work occurred for aprox. 12 hours per day, including lighting (during dark times) for safety, and was completed in a week
  
• The work was conducted with minimal disturbance in the area