To the editor:
I am writing regarding the northern gateway pipeline.
With all inherent risks and dangers of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline through British Columbia with very little return to us, why not simply join it up in Alberta to go south with the Keystone project.
Tweak the route of the southern Keystone pipeline a bit west to Great Falls, Montana where there can be a pipeline juncture. Now, the pipeline goes south as proposed and the west arm goes through Montana, Idaho and out to the Seattle/Tacoma region for deep sea tanker ports.
We in B.C. are spared the risk of a monumental and uncleanable oil spill in the tanker unfriendly Kitimat canal and save our precious province from the worst.
Meanwhile the pipeline route across the three northern states would produce thousands of miles of jobs needed in the United States from the construction, all of the trained oil spill specialists from the Exxon Valdes spill and the Gulf of Mexico spill could permanently stand employed and ready for the new pipeline if it should have any problems.
More tanker traffic past Seattle would be good for businesses and tourist venues there. Any oil spill along the routes or at the terminal can be managed. Any spills in the ocean channels in front of Seattle can be contained inside the Olympic peninsula.
This is really a big win for everyone. Alberta ships its oil south to the U.S. and on to the eastern Pacific markets with no harm to the B.C. landscape.
When Saskatchewan starts to develop its tar sands deposits along the Alberta border, a simple hookup there to the Keystone would be easy.
Â
Gary Young
Lac la Hache
Gary Young is the pro tem (temporary) president of the BC First Party.
