VANCOUVER – The National Energy Board (NEB) recommended today that Cabinet approve the Trans Mountain pipeline project, following a review of the project’s marine shipping impacts. Ecojustice lawyer Dyna Tuytel issued the following statement in response:
“The Trans Mountain pipeline project poses an unacceptable risk to endangered orcas, communities, and the climate.
“If built, the project would lead to a sevenfold increase in tanker traffic through critical Southern Resident killer whale habitat. This population of killer whales already faces imminent threats to its survival, and does not have the resilience to cope with these additional threats.
“The Trans Mountain project would also lead to additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when the science says we have less than 12 years to keep warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“The NEB opted to recommend the project despite acknowledging that the project would have ‘significant adverse environmental effects’ on the Southern Residents. In recommending this project without a credible plan to mitigate these threats, the NEB has effectively ignored the impacts on whales, Indigenous communities, and the climate. Now it is up to Cabinet to reject the NEB’s recommendation and refuse to approve the project.
“The Federal Court of Appeal already sent the NEB and Cabinet back to the drawing board once, after they failed to consider and mitigate the project’s marine shipping impacts on endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Now, on behalf of Living Oceans Society and Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Ecojustice is asking the members of Cabinet not to repeat the same mistake.
“Given the threats the Trans Mountain pipeline poses to endangered Southern Resident killer whales, local communities and the climate, Cabinet cannot lawfully approve this project. Ecojustice urges the ministers to reject the NEB’s recommendation and shut the door on the Trans Mountain project once and for all.”
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Ecojustice, Canada’s largest environmental law charity, goes to court and uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment for all.