Tag Archives: Oil Spills

Disaster

City of Burnaby prepares for possible Trans Mountain disasters

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Burnaby is preparing for a series of unlikely but potentially disastrous accidents stemming from the Trans Mountain pipeline system.

An animated video, released Sept. 5, depicts three hypothetical, fiery scenarios that could arise at the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and Westridge Marine Terminal. The city plans to carry out a full emergency exercise in 2027 to prepare for these worst-case scenarios.

Continue reading City of Burnaby prepares for possible Trans Mountain disasters →
Energy

Port Moody joins calls for TMX to develop ‘credible plan’ in case of oil spill in Burrard Inlet

By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Port Moody is joining calls for Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) to develop a detailed plan in case of an oil spill at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby.

TMX is consulting with stakeholders regarding the decommissioning of the old 60-year-old pier, which has been replaced with a three-berth expansion, which will allow a seven-fold minimum increase in tanker traffic in the Burrard Inlet.

Continue reading Port Moody joins calls for TMX to develop ‘credible plan’ in case of oil spill in Burrard Inlet →
Environment

No spill response can eliminate risk to marine life in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

By Sidney Coles, Capital Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Last week, Capital Daily reported that the new 74.5-metre (244-foot) Western Marine Response Corporation (WMRC) vessel named the K.J. Gardner will be docked in Beecher Bay early in the new year. The ship is purpose-built to patrol the BC coastline and respond in the event of an oil spill.

This additional response resource is being deployed in anticipation of the 34+ tankers per month (450 per year) that will soon come out of Burnaby’s Westridge Marine Terminal laden with oil from the TMX pipeline before making their way through the San Juan Islands and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Continue reading No spill response can eliminate risk to marine life in the Strait of Juan de Fuca →
Environment

Suncor Energy accidentally released 700 kilograms of propane at Port Moody terminal, prompting compliance letter

By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Suncor Energy’s terminal in Port Moody has been issued an advisory by the province after 700 kilograms of propane was released into the environment.

The oil company’s upper Burrard Terminal is located in the Glenayre neighbourhood and used as a product distribution facility. 

On Dec. 15, 2022, human error led to the release of the propane, but the company did not report the incident until Jan. 24.

Continue reading Suncor Energy accidentally released 700 kilograms of propane at Port Moody terminal, prompting compliance letter →
Parks, Rivers & Oceans

A deeper dive into the marine protected network plan on Canada’s West Coast

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

There’s much to celebrate in the proposed plan to create a string of marine protected areas stretching Canada’s West Coast from northern Vancouver Island to Alaska, experts say. 

But the lack of information on specific protection measures for the BC Northern Shelf MPA Network means the blueprint to preserve sensitive ocean ecosystems risks becoming a string of “paper parks” — legally designated areas that don’t actually have effective conservation or stewardship measures. 

Continue reading A deeper dive into the marine protected network plan on Canada’s West Coast →