Saint John city council peppers TransCanada with questions over Energy East

"Explain what capacity TransCanada has or will have to respond to an environmental incident that may compromise our drinking water."

That's just one of the page upon pages of questions The City of Saint John has sent Transcanda over its proposed Energy East project.

The city wants TransCanada to answer questions on Energy East on everything from the number of jobs the project will create to its environmental impact, potentially hinting at more challenges ahead for the pipeline.

The “informal information requests” are contained in a 53-page city council report issued in late January.

The requests cover economic development opportunities, social and environmental impacts, land use planning and public safety considerations.

The report says that the information requests form “essential inputs for the City” in order for it to be able to “make an informed decision with respect to the ‘conditions’ by which our community can support the Energy East project….”

The report qualifies that latter statement, noting that it must fit with “Council’s previous resolution to work with both TransCanada and the regulator (NEB) ‘to ensure that the pipeline is safely constructed in such a way to protect the environment.’”

The southern New Brunswick city’s support is crucial to TransCanada’s plan. Saint John will serve as the eastern terminus for the project.

The proposed 4,600-kilometre pipeline would transport 1.1 million barrels daily of crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in eastern Canada and to an export terminal and large tank storage facility contained at the New Brunswick port city.

But the city, which has applied for intervenor status at the upcoming NEB hearings over the project, wants reassurances about Energy East.

Among other things the city is asking for a detailed discussion of the possibility of an offshore oil spill taking place over the anticipated lifetime of the project; emergency response plans to such an event; and what animals and plant life would be at risk from such a spill.

The city also wants to know how TransCanada would compensate commercial fishers and tourism operators in the event of a leak or rupture; and how long the crude would remain in the environment and continue to have toxic effects.

The report points out that the city is situated on the Bay of Fundy, a 270-kilometre ocean bay that stretches between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Each day 160 billion tonnes of sea water flows in and out of the bay during a single tide cycle.

As well, national parks, UNESCO sites, national historic sites, provincial parks and museums all border the Bay of Fundy, while the St. John and Kennebecasis Rivers flow into it.

Furthermore, the report notes that project isn’t subject to a provincial environmental assessment (EIA). The city wants to know how TransCanada will provide an equivalent level of analysis of the project’s environmental impact on wildlife and their natural environment without completing the provincial EIA process.

The city also questions how the pipeline will affect wildlife corridors within the city; and wonders what risks the pipeline will pose to wildlife. As well, the report notes the pipeline crosses the Mispec River, a salmon-bearing watercourse.

“How will TransCanada ensure construction and operation of the pipeline does not negatively impact the watercourse and salmon population?” the report questions.

TransCanada media relations and City of Saint John mayor Mel Norton did not respond to requests for comment before publication.

Norton told the CBC, “My desire and my belief is that at the end of this process we’re going to have an opportunity to completely and unreservedly support the project.”

The federal government announced yesterday that it intends to extend the review of the Energy East project by six months.

Reacting to news of the federal pipeline review Wednesday, a number of environmental groups argued that the Energy East project shouldn’t be allowed to proceed.

Both Greenpeace Canada and Environmental Defence contend that since the NEB’s hearing order for Energy East hasn’t been issued yet that the project should be halted.

“If the transitional process is just for projects under review, it shouldn’t apply to Energy East,” said Tim Ehlich, communications manager with Environmental Defence.

Sven Biggs, pipeline campaigner with ForestEthics Advocacy, agreed. He said yesterday’s announcement makes it clear that the federal government believes the NEP process is flawed.

“For this reason, no new projects, including the Energy East pipeline, should be put before the board before new environmental legislation is passed.”