Living Oceans Society is working to ensure that B.C.'s coastal waters stay oil free forever.
The coast of B.C. has been protected from offshore oil and gas and massive crude oil tankers by a federal moratorium put in place in 1972. According to federal government documents, the moratorium began with a ban on crude oil tankers in Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance and Queen Charlotte Sound and was then extended to include offshore oil and gas exploration and development.
Recently, several proposals have come forward that would connect B.C.'s coastal waters with the expansion of Alberta's tarsands. The projects involve a series of pipelines running from coastal B.C. to the tarsands. One of the largest of these proposals is by Enbridge Inc. and involves building two pipelines over 1,000 km long to import condensate and export tarsands oil. If the project were to proceed it would require over 200 tankers per year entering coastal waters and navigating the waters to Kitimat and back.
Since 2006, the federal government has begun to reinterpet the ban on tankers and started to allow tankers loaded with condensate to travel the inside passage up to the port of Kitimat. Although chemically condensate is classified as a crude oil, the government has argued that the properties of condensate make it more like a gas than an oil and therefore have allowed it to be transported.
While the coast is under threat from the introduction of massive oil tankers. the ban on offshore oil and gas seems safe for now. After a major push by the provincial government and a series of public, scientific and First Nations reviews that found the majority of British Columbia's supported the ban remaining in place, the federal government has put the plan on hold, at least for now.
Living Oceans Society applauds this decision as B.C., and coastal communities in particular, have very little to gain but would carry the very real and large risk associated with an offshore oil and gas industry. Based on the highest estimates (which many admit are likley overly optimistic) of potential oil and gas in the offshore basins, experts predict that B.C.’s offshore reserves would produce only enough oil and gas to satisfy U.S. consumption for six months.
The coast of B.C. has been protected from offshore oil and gas and massive crude oil tankers by a federal moratorium put in place in 1972. According to federal government documents, the moratorium began with a ban on crude oil tankers in Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance and Queen Charlotte Sound and was then extended to include offshore oil and gas exploration and development.
Recently, several proposals have come forward that would connect B.C.'s coastal waters with the expansion of Alberta's tarsands. The projects involve a series of pipelines running from coastal B.C. to the tarsands. One of the largest of these proposals is by Enbridge Inc. and involves building two pipelines over 1,000 km long to import condensate and export tarsands oil. If the project were to proceed it would require over 200 tankers per year entering coastal waters and navigating the waters to Kitimat and back.
Since 2006, the federal government has begun to reinterpet the ban on tankers and started to allow tankers loaded with condensate to travel the inside passage up to the port of Kitimat. Although chemically condensate is classified as a crude oil, the government has argued that the properties of condensate make it more like a gas than an oil and therefore have allowed it to be transported.
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Oil Spill ModelSee the potential impact of an oil spill on B.C.'s coast. |
Living Oceans Society applauds this decision as B.C., and coastal communities in particular, have very little to gain but would carry the very real and large risk associated with an offshore oil and gas industry. Based on the highest estimates (which many admit are likley overly optimistic) of potential oil and gas in the offshore basins, experts predict that B.C.’s offshore reserves would produce only enough oil and gas to satisfy U.S. consumption for six months.
Around the world offshore drilling and tanker spills have damaged the marine environment. Offshore oil will have a negative impact on coastal communities and any businesses that depend on a clean, healthy ocean. The majority of First Nations and other British Columbians want the moratorium to remain in place.
