Cam Fortems – Kamloops This Week
Kinder Morgan has pledged to spend $1 million restoring a right-of-way through Lac Du Bois Grasslands Provincial Park northwest of Kamloops, as well as areas damaged by off-road vehicles in its application to permit twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
The spending pledges are contained in the corporation’s most recent addendum to it proposal to twin the Trans-Mountain line through a number of provincial parks and protected areas, including North Thompson and Finn Creek provincial parks and the Lac Du Bois Grasslands protected area above Westsyde.
At Lac Du Bois, Kinder Morgan has pledged to spend about $1.2 million on measures to improve habitat, reduce intrusion and increase signage in the park.
The offer is made to compensate for placing its pipeline through the park alongside a Telus fibre optic line that predates the park’s creation in the early 1990s. The Telus line through the grasslands was replanted with a European species, crested wheatgrass, commonly used because it is quick and successful.
Kinder Morgan stated in the latest version of its application to the province it is working with Thompson Rivers University researchers and a subsidiary of the Tk’emlups Indian Band to harvest native seeds that will be used if it is permitted to develop the route.
Next month, the corporation pushing to twin its petroleum pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby will appear in front of a National Energy Board panel to make presentations in support of its application. More than 75 intervenors are also lined up to speak to the proposal, including the B.C. Grasslands Conservation Council.
The grasslands group opposes placement of the pipeline through the park.
Executive director Scott Benton said the group continues to push for Kinder Morgan to make public details and costs of other routes. Thus far, the company has said following a route along Westsyde Road would cost $20 million.
Restoration of the grasslands route alongside the Telus line with native species is estimated at $900,000. Kinder Morgan also pledged to spend $100,000 fixing off-road vehicle damage and another $200,000 on signage, park patrols to keep out unauthorized vehicles and an invasive weed survey.
“They’re offering to spend up to $900,000 [on the Telus right-of-way],” Benton said. “I have no idea if that’s adequate.”
Similarly, Benton said the grasslands organization wants to see more detail on the pledge to spend $100,000 restoring areas destroyed by off-road vehicles.
Kinder Morgan also said in its revised proposal to the province it will spend $100,000 at Finn Creek Provincial Park and $75,00 at North Thompson River Provincial Park on restoration projects if the project is approved.
