Ship discharges pose threat

Discharges of oily effluent from ships pose a bigger problem to British Columbia coastal waters than catastrophic oil spills, the final phase of public hearings into Enbridge’s planned Northern Gateway project was told by an attorney for Nature Canada.

Chris Tollefson, representing the non-profit conservation groups, challenged representatives of Enbridge to refute research that claims the cumulative impact of the chronic oiling is greater than the effects of major oil spills on endangered birdlife.

The Northern Gateway plan estimates 220 tankers a year would traverse the area to and from the deepwater terminal at Kitimat.

Jeff Green, who is responsible for the project’s environmental assessment, conceded that “mystery” sills can be as large as tanker spills, but argued they occur in different regions and in small quantities.

“Yes, it is a problem,” he said. “There’s absolutely no question, it’s a problem.”

In noting that there has been a call for increased surveillance and increased enforcement of laws that prevent ship-source discharges, he said recreational boats, fishing vessels, urban run-off and sewage, along with natural seepage from oil deposits in the Pacific, are likely sources of the mystery oil.

Green said that under the Canada Shipping Act authorized discharges are legally confined to an amount that does not have a significant impact on wildlife.

John Carruthers, president of Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, said the project will “fully comply with all laws and regulations. That is our firm expectation.”

But Tollefson questioned whether Enbridge can offer that assurance when it has yet to name all of its Northern Gateway partners.

Carruthers said that all shippers would be required to abide by Canadian laws.

—Gary Park