US tribes testify against expansion of West Coast Canada pipeline
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Associated Press] by Phuong Le - Oct. 22, 2014 SEATTLE —
U.S. tribes told Canadian regulators on Wednesday they're opposed to a proposed pipeline expansion project in Canada that could dramatically increase the number of oil tankers plying West Coast waters. Kinder Morgan Canada has proposed a $5.4 billion expansion of its existing Trans Mountain pipeline, which links oil from Alberta's tar sands to the Vancouver, British Columbia-area.
The project could increase by seven-fold the number of oil tankers that transit Washington state waters. Tribal leaders from Washington state traveled to Chilliwack, B.C., to testify before Canada's National Energy Board.
Increased oil tanker traffic could boost the risk of oil spills with devastating consequences for tribes' way of life, culture and the environment, as well as their U.S. treaty right to fish, they said. "It's not if, but when, one of these tankers run aground somewhere," said Brian Cladoosby, chairman...
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