Province asks for more information on spill prevention for Trans Mountain expansion

NEWS — The provincial government wants more details from Kinder Morgan on spill prevention and response on both land and sea regarding its proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

“We are using the information request process to better understand Kinder Morgan’s plans for implementing marine and land oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems,” said Environment Minister Mary Polak today.

The province has submitted more than 70 information requests.

“We are asking the company to provide more detail than is contained in their application so that we can continue our analysis of the extent to which they will deliver the world-class systems that we require.”

Provincial experts have been reviewing Kinder Morgan’s application since it was submitted to the National Energy Board in December 2013.

The pipeline runs from Edmonton through Kamloops to Burnaby. The province’s information requests cover areas such as spill response planning, capacity and standards, tanker requirements, personnel and training and the company’s emergency management program.

The province will review the responses that Kinder Morgan provides as part of its preparation for the argument phase of the hearings, set for February 2015.