Editor: At last a light in the darkness, an editorial of reason (The Times, March 12). I agree that Enbridge’s public relations regarding the Northern Gateway Project has been an fiasco in the grand style. Can you say “foot in mouth?”
The Kinder Morgan proposal appears to be thought out, yet as one who has worked in the oil and gas project industry, the companies need to get information to the public in a manner that can be understood. This is sadly lacking.
The current manufacture of line pipe has absolutely no relationship to the pipe of the 1950s and 1960s. API 5L requirements have been upgraded to reflect the concerns of the industry and the public.
These specifications are in constant review. There is a project in Alberta that rejected the first group of pipe because one of the chemical elements was missing. The pipe met all other requirements, yet it was deemed not suitable for the application the end user wanted it for.
There is a Canadian firm of note that took the Caspian Sea pipeline calamity as an opportunity to take the technology, improve it and put their company on the line with a guaranty to any user. These upgrades are not done without considering the long-term implications to the public.
Canada’s major pipeline contractors have led the industry in safety and environmental procedures. Projects in the recent past that have been problematic have had little or no involvement with Canadian firms, the Caspian problems notwithstanding.
Not to appear too cynical, but I often question the motives of the naysayers. These are people who travel utilizing modern transportation vehicles and equipment. They decry pipelines and oil, but for the most part the negativity is based on “what if.”
Who are these organizations that decry the dangers without any hard information and facts, just supposition? In any other situation these groups would be ignored as loonies, baying into the night.
When they come up with some hard facts which address the situation, I will listen.
If one wanted to take the time to research the supposed problems, an in-depth search may turn up a common denominator.
I’m for a prosperous, forward-thinking British Columbia.
Terry Brenan,
Aldergrove
