If you believe the Enbridge Northern Gateway project won't happen then let me tell you about the tooth fairy..sorry ! I see that Mr. Monaco wants to chat with our Christy—pipelines will be built—by someone—BUT who can we trust ?? Corny as it may seem—I see that some public contrition by the Board and a full ‘commitment’ to Al Monaco’s comments at recent AGM could get Enbridge back on track ? As we know PUBLIC TRUST has to be earned—bullying will not work..! When Al Monaco appeared as President and C.E.O. at Enbridge ,we heard some promising WORDS— which led to cautious optimism for some ?It’s been a while, but now we see major , constructive, public commitments..by Al Monaco...At the recent AGM meeting in Calgary http://www.enbridge.com/InvestorRelations/CorporateGovernance/ExecutiveManagement/~/media/www/Site%20Documents/Investor%20Relations/2013/2013_AGM_CEO_Remarks.pdf ) Mr. Monaco stated “ I want to underscore that the safety, reliability and environmental sustainability of our systems will always come first —it’s the foundation for everything WE do....Growth requires PUBLIC TRUST—based on the confidence that we will do everything in our power to respect and protect the communities and environment. And we’re committed to doing that.” “We” presumably includes EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION !!—including all members of the Board !!Is this the EPIPHANIC moment—where Corporate operations ‘safety’,’reliability’,the ’public trust’ become the underpinnings of the corporation ?Enbridge appears to still live under the cloud of the 2010 Kalamazoo incident....should the Board show contrition and acknowledge that incident was the result of a cultural/organization structural problem at Enbridge?? Board silence is not helping to gain the public trust..Let’s hear the Board say ,yes,we do ‘give a damn’..and then the entire Board agree,wholeheartedly. with the direction set by the President and C.E.O. Let the Board SING OUT this ‘agreement’ load and clearly —that’s the MUSIC we need to hear to accompany this Enbridge Northern Gateway opera.Now for the TOUGH part;credibility !Will this Corporate action be enough to EARN the public trust ? Will we, ’the peasants’ and our leaders, believe ?—we’ll see !Your move..
OIL SPILL PREVENTION ? Warren Bell is right on the mark;the Enbridge Northern Gateway project will happen. ’Big Al’, (President and CEO Enbridge,Al Monaco, )will soon have a ‘chat’ with Christy—and guess what—?? A pipeline begins ..we need the revenue—Harper needs the revenue— Our biggest concern is about the feared ocean bitumen spill—pipelines and ocean oil shipping is here to stay..BUT we can make a better job of defending our shores..some ideas included below...Nothing has changed—Megacorp says jump... We need these folks but we must make the rules..For instance the first LNG containers and ships were feared—but now 70 years after the horrendous 1944 Cleveland LNG explosion ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_East_Ohio_Gas_explosion ), we boast about the potential for LNG export shipping; RELATIVELY SAFELY. Let’s see some specific development effort given to bitumen tanker development..if the LNG shipping industry can do it;why not expect the same progress from the oil tanker designers ? Surely with some concentrated ‘world class’ effort Enbridge,and Kinder Morgan, and their shipping partners can demonstrate their ability to better prevent a bitumen shipping event on our shores. The recent Vancouver Sun column http://www.vancouversun.com/business/spill+response+disorganized+audits+find/8474876/story.html ‘Oil-spill response disorganized,audit finds..’ Canada’s ‘world class’ oil spill clean up expertise has yet to be demonstrated...Yes ,we BC lotus landers, are concerned about BITUMEN SHIPPING SPILLS.. ...more ships equals more potential for ‘incidents’! Ask a first year statistics student !Stephen Harper’s suggested recently that science,not politics, should help us to decide. Let that be the basis of our methodology for resolving these very complex,technical(shipping) issues.Our government legislates that a ‘years-long’ national public hearing is required for a pipeline .— –We need to take a similar structured, adjudicated approach to building our ‘world class’ shipping regulations--- Yes,we require public debate ,with counsel provided by a cross section of knowledgeable contributors, to provide the best SCIENCE(not politics) we know !Enbridge and Kinder Morgan must START with a cautious,common-sense approach.... stay out of narrow ,island bound ,waterways and busy harbours—Recent shipping incidents ,typically , happen when crew are DISTRACTED or INADEQUATELY TRAINED . Mandatory double,triple or quadruple backup methods must be in place---we must prevent these ‘people created’ ‘events’.Now what ? The picture does not become any ‘clearer’ ! Mr. Moore (Federal heritage Minister)gave a cautious,surprising answer recently ‘Last year the federal Conservative government included legislative changes in its omnibus budget implementation bill, Bill-C38, that gave cabinet power to override the National Energy Board on decisions regarding pipeline approvals and to order alternative environmental assessment processes.’ As for the decision process ,likely we’ll have to yield to OUR LEADER’S scientific method’ which makes the SCIENTIFIC decision process much simpler.... ”heads I win, tails you lose”.
Subject: Fw: BITUMEN shipping debate--goes on and on... It seems Strange, to me, that pipeline routing and the PROPONENT(Enbridge) effectively have been ‘CHOSEN’.We have a Hearing (go through he motions-sort of; and ‘Bob’s you uncle, here's your pipeline’—! However ,for what many consider as the more significant concern—THE OCEAN SHIPPING PORTION OF THE PROJECT, we here and see mumbling and foot shuffling—lot’s of finger pointing too! Remember how Enbridge said early on that “shipping was not their responsibility”—several times..so ‘don’t bother us ‘with that stuff’.Yes the NEB will see to it that Enbridge will produce sound land based infrastructure—Enbridge had to be ‘on their toes’ after their 2010 Kalamazoo fiasco—hell ,they even ‘threw in’ half billion dollars of pipe line enhancements in the 11th hour---remember.As for the ocean stuff,relax,Joe Oliver recently tried to demonstrate Canada’s bitumen ocean spill clean-up capabilities—remember.Yes—on the way to Vancouver harbour this specially equipped ,world class vessel ,travelling from Esquimalt ,somehow got slightly lost,and grounded itself on a Fraser River sandbar---and apparently no one board, was aware of the on board sounder??Are you feeling better,yet??These leaders and their EXPERTS are telling us not to worry!!!With respect I offer the following SUGGESTIONS..Yes—let’s have a PUBLIC Hearing ( include local and international recognized OCEAN scientists and experts) to convince THE B.C. PUBLIC that the ‘dictated’ tanker routing and unproven ocean BITUMEN clean up procedures are the BEST OPTIONS open to us, today? Instead , we’re left with only THE experts TELLING us , ‘DON”T WORRY,BE HAPPY’..while we endure a ‘years long’ PUBLIC HEARING for a pipeline..? Recall that most recent major ‘Shipping Incidents’ didn’t just HAPPEN—’people’ most often ,somehow ,have ‘aided’ in the ‘incident’ ! –---WHAT TO DO?STUDY and SIMPLIFY the tanker routing! Thenreduce the probability of a shipping incident--here are TWO common sense, DOABLE options for ENBRIDGE and KINDER MORGAN;FOR STARTERS; 1.Remove the bitumen shipping from our very busy Vancouver harbour(move to Roberts Bank) and; 2.Move bitumen ship loading and travel OUT of Douglas channel—to an open harbour. These EXPERTS and PIPE LINE Proponents experts are not willing to face the public about the shipping questions–Instead have chosen to ‘hide behind the skirts ‘ of the EXPERTS ! Prime Minister Harper has expressed his faith in science --http://business.financialpost.com/2012/08/07/harper-says-science-not-politics-will-decide-northern-gateway-fate/?__lsa=4732-5f59 Great.Now, let these OCEANS’ EXPERTS and scientists guide us –-so we can get on with business!”
Janet Holder ,Enbridge executive, recently commented about Enbridge’ intention to build a safe pipeline..
Of course the Northern Gateway pipeline will be built to the high standards---after the 11th hour quick, half billion dollar, 'fix'.The problem with Enbridge is it's apparent lack of corporate 'interest' in operations safety---the US NTSB commented about this 'lack'.
WHO will 'care about' this proposed BC pipeline 10,30 or 50 YEARS HENCE.---Aging pipelines don't improve with age unless the owner 'gives a damn'!
Enbridge should do a better job of communicating but they stubbornly stick to their bullying tactics and the Janet Holder annoying ‘pretty picture’ ads--
There is no indication that the CEO or Corporate BOARD will talk to BC folks and convince us that they do 'care' and are willing to listen--it's just not the ENBRIDGE way!” Enbridge are very busy building pipe lines to, almost ,everywhere—and obviously don’t have the time !
In October 1944 ,an LNG plant explosion ‘happened ’in Cleveland Ohio, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_East_Ohio_Gas_explosion. This disaster had a lengthy impact on the LNG sector of the natural gas industry. Today, we boast that LNG can greatly help our economy--safely! The time has come for the bitumen transport sector to respond to public/political pressure about some or our current OIL TRANSPORT issues ...that have yet have yet to be ‘resolved’,satisfactorily. Do we need a bitumen tanker spill DISASTER or another Kalamazoo to help us better‘design’ our bitumen infrastructure? I read that LNG ships are manned by highly skilled ,specially trained crews .Yet we intend to send HUGE bitumen loaded tankers into our coastal watereways.Pick any location on our coastline and SHOW US how the shipping crews WILL cope with a MAJOR bitumen LEAK, from a tanker hung up on a reef in a howling gale;while we wait for many hours...or days to receive containment equipment.UNTIL WE LEARN MUCH MORE , bitumen laden tankers should be permitted only in the COMMON SENSE locations... NOT BURRARD INLET...OR DOUGLAS CHANNEL..! Our LNG cousins have been developing transport techniques for decades. We need to be convinced that our bitumen transporter proponents give a damn...let’s see a ‘CULTURE of SAFETY’ in the Board rooms... Canada has the world’s longest coastline and it’s time that those proposing a potential threat to that coastline present us only with ‘SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN’ leak recovery capabilities... We may have golden opportunity here, to provide the shipping world with the ‘oil transport’ ocean science research leadership ... with the help our B.C. and Alberta universities and the other beneficiaries. As Mr. Harper told us not long ago not long ago....’science ,NOT POLITICS, should help us to decide...
See http://www.vancouversun.com/Pipeline+exercise+hits+some+rough+water/8142736/story.htmlAs many have said—‘you can’t make this stuff up!'Joe Oliver comes to town for a ‘photo op’ of BC’s pride of the clean up fleet! ...presumably to show the world how we intend to develop/create ‘a World Class Tanker Safety System’..Craig McInnes must have had difficulty writing this without the occasional fit of laughter...’slap stick’ for sure..Questions1.why is this critical piece equipment (the BURRARD Cleaner No. 9) kept in Esquimalt---I thought the congested oil tanker traffic was in Vancouver harbour??2.we have had no serious oil spill situations –great but was that more a matter of dumb luck3.this ‘pride of BC clean up vessel’ apparently ‘got lost’ on the way to Burrard Inlet...and goes aground on a Fraser river sand bar—slightly off course and apparently unable to operate the high tech sounder on board??4.this incident reinforces the idea that ships rarely sink or founder unless assisted by the crew!5.and on and on---No, this this not funny---but it is VERY SAD to see this Looney Tunes operation up close.Poor Joe for sure...what can you say..Remember your own famous words Mr. Harper—‘’science ,NOT POLITICS, should help us to decide...’Are there any scientists left?
IT’S ABOUT SAFETY,STUPID ! In October 1944 ,an LNG plant explosion ‘happened ’in Cleveland Ohio, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_East_Ohio_Gas_explosion. This disaster had a lengthy impact on the LNG sector of the natural gas industry. Today, we boast that LNG can greatly help our economy--safely! The time has come for the bitumen transport sector to respond to public/political pressure about some or our current OIL TRANSPORT issues ...that have yet have yet to be ‘resolved’,satisfactorily. Do we need a bitumen tanker spill DISASTER or another Kalamazoo to help us better‘design’ our bitumen infrastructure? I read that LNG ships are manned by highly skilled ,specially trained crews .Yet we intend to send HUGE bitumen loaded tankers into our coastal watereways.Pick any location on our coastline and SHOW US how the shipping crews WILL cope with a MAJOR bitumen LEAK, from a tanker hung up on a reef in a howling gale;while we wait for many hours...or days to receive containment equipment.UNTIL WE LEARN MUCH MORE , bitumen laden tankers should be permitted only in the COMMON SENSE locations... NOT BURRARD INLET...OR DOUGLAS CHANNEL..! Our LNG cousins have been developing transport techniques for decades. We need to be convinced that our bitumen transporter proponents give a damn...let’s see a ‘CULTURE of SAFETY’ in the Board rooms... Canada has the world’s longest coastline and it’s time that those proposing a potential threat to that coastline present us only with ‘SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN’ leak recovery capabilities... We may have golden opportunity here, to provide the shipping world with the ‘oil transport’ ocean science research leadership ... with the help our B.C. and Alberta universities and the other beneficiaries. As Mr. Harper told us not long ago not long ago....’science ,NOT POLITICS, should help us to decide...
The issue may be the lingering distrust of the Enbridge OPERATING culture—resulting from what was said during the US NTSB hearings after the (Enbridge) Kalamazoo pipeline fiasco. See this link
We see ,currently , lots of colorful full page ads by Janet Holder—pretty ads, but not communicating the message we want to see.Yes- there’s lot’s of talk about ‘nuts and bolts ‘stuff...but as another lady once said ‘where’s the beef ?
The Enbridge Kalamazoo, Michigan, nightmare is (was) a making of their own; see [US] National Transportation Safety Board reports.
A lack of commitment to operational training by management and of management can lead to nightmares. Management often will fall back onto the old dodge such as, “We followed all the regulations, standards of the day.”
Give me a break—systems start to become obsolete soon after start up. Further, leaders don’t follow standards, they set the standard—continually; that is during AND AFTER construction..
I don’t know the ‘public image’ solution for Enbridge ---but somehow we need to hear and see something convincing ; not from Janet Holder—but from the full Board of Directors—tell and show us how you’ve changed your organization and ‘culture’.
I’m hoping to see an OPERATIONS SAFETY EPIPHANY by the Enbridge Board...’ fessing up’ is good for the soul ,I’m told... I suggest that such an epiphany would be welcomed by the decision makers and the public, even at this late date
The apparent cooperation between TransCanada and the US hosts confuses me--why can't our(BC) wannabe pipeliners respond similarly--or am I missing something??
After reading the following—see link http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Pipeline+decision+time/7800039/story.html I became confused .(The Keystone XL oil pipeline is part of a 2700 km system stretching from Alberta to Texas). The article tells me-- ‘According to a new study...TransCanada found an alternative route that avoids Nebraska’s .. crucial aquifer..and numerous ecologically sensitive areas in the state....The article states that “the company (TransCanada)..addressed most every concern raised..agreeing to dozens of special conditions...during the construction,operation and maintenance phases....Finally,TransCanada has committed itself to taking responsibility,technical and financial,for any spills.”We hear little about Enbridge or Kinder Morgan and the ‘profiting’ project participants’(oil producers and shippers) agreeing to ‘take financial responsibility for ANY spills.’! Occasional mumbling is heard by these folks---but no firm commitment to pay for ALL spills! Conveniently,for them, the project participants profit as a group—regardless—but for A DISASTROUS SPILL ,in Burrard Inlet or Douglas Channel, or some remote ‘Kalamazoo like’ swamp land along the pipeline right of way, we’ll likely see a lot of finger pointing happening—leaving BC citizens to pay for clean up.That’s what confuses me ..no clarity about a commitment to pay...AND little apparent interest in reducing the probability and consequences of a spill(and unbelievably still ,sticking to Douglas Channel and Burrard Inlet routing). Unless we hear soon how these wannabe BC pipe liners will protect us from the inevitable screw up—maybe we should look at inviting new proposals? The oil will keep in the ground while we find the right proponent.We’re happy to assist our cousin provinces to transport their resources to market—so please, cousins, support us by telling the pipeline proponents to come up with some sensible schemes—that do not encumber BC residents unfairly.Seems fair.
..well,at least they’re consistent ...? Little Oversight for Enbridge Pipeline Route that Skirts Lake Michigan. ----see this link for full story---Dec 27,2012http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20121227/indiana-enbridge-pipeline-6B-lake-michigan-rivers-dilbit-oil-spill-wetlands?page=4 Excerpts follow; Because the pipeline runs so close to Lake Michigan—and because it is being built by a company with a history of pipeline spills in the region—a growing coalition of environmental groups is demanding that it be given extraordinary oversight and protection.BUT GETTING THOSE PROTECTIONS WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.A major spill into one of the Indiana rivers would be even more disastrous than the Michigan (Kalamazoo) spill, the environmental groups say, because the pipeline's crossing points are so much closer to Lake Michigan..and on and on! You can recognize the pattern no doubt;of all places , in Michigan!—Yep,same OLDE Enbridge! I, along with others no doubt, have been looking for that new Enbridge culture –I suggested an Enbridge Board of Directors ‘Operations Safety EPIPHANY’;ha ha my friends said; they were right!——Enbridge are big and have an huge opportunity to capitalize on North America’s booming, huge ,new oil production opportunities;Bakken,tight oil and of course bitumen—all the pipeline gang ,including Trans Canada and Kinder Morgan are planning to build pipe lines—TO EVERY WHERE! Yes all governments are desperate for revenue and our cries for safer pipe line operating practices are not likely to be given serious consideration —UNTIL we voters become a factor—you know that most significant item in a politicians survival handbook—‘POLLS’. We know that most pipelines eventually are built –and more will be built—and for that reason and the fact that existing pipe lines don’t improve with age—we need to press our law makers to make the ‘pipe liner’ more accountable for safe operations practices—starting with the Boards of Directors.
Janet Holder ,Enbridge executive, recently commented about Enbridge’ intention to build a safe pipeline..
Of course the Northern Gateway pipeline will be built to the high standards---after the 11th hour quick, half billion dollar, 'fix'.The problem with Enbridge is it's apparent lack of corporate 'interest' in operations safety---the US NTSB commented about this 'lack'.
WHO will 'care about' this proposed BC pipeline 10,30 or 50 YEARS HENCE.---Aging pipelines don't improve with age unless the owner 'gives a damn'!
Enbridge should do a better job of communicating but they stubbornly stick to their bullying tactics and the Janet Holder annoying ‘pretty picture’ ads--
There is no indication that the CEO or Corporate BOARD will talk to BC folks and convince us that they do 'care' and are willing to listen--it's just not the ENBRIDGE way!” Enbridge are very busy building pipe lines to, almost ,everywhere—and obviously don’t have the time !
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents/p21799/81081E.pdf (summary) and then ask what Enbridge has done to convince you that they’ll operate differently on the Northern gateway project?
We see ,currently , lots of colorful full page ads by Janet Holder—pretty ads, but not communicating the message we want to see.Yes- there’s lot’s of talk about ‘nuts and bolts ‘stuff...but as another lady once said ‘where’s the beef ?
The Enbridge Kalamazoo, Michigan, nightmare is (was) a making of their own; see [US] National Transportation Safety Board reports.
A lack of commitment to operational training by management and of management can lead to nightmares. Management often will fall back onto the old dodge such as, “We followed all the regulations, standards of the day.”
Give me a break—systems start to become obsolete soon after start up. Further, leaders don’t follow standards, they set the standard—continually; that is during AND AFTER construction..
I don’t know the ‘public image’ solution for Enbridge ---but somehow we need to hear and see something convincing ; not from Janet Holder—but from the full Board of Directors—tell and show us how you’ve changed your organization and ‘culture’.
I’m hoping to see an OPERATIONS SAFETY EPIPHANY by the Enbridge Board...’ fessing up’ is good for the soul ,I’m told... I suggest that such an epiphany would be welcomed by the decision makers and the public, even at this late date
The apparent cooperation between TransCanada and the US hosts confuses me--why can't our(BC) wannabe pipeliners respond similarly--or am I missing something??
After reading the following—see link http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Pipeline+decision+time/7800039/story.html I became confused .(The Keystone XL oil pipeline is part of a 2700 km system stretching from Alberta to Texas). The article tells me-- ‘According to a new study...TransCanada found an alternative route that avoids Nebraska’s .. crucial aquifer..and numerous ecologically sensitive areas in the state....The article states that “the company (TransCanada)..addressed most every concern raised..agreeing to dozens of special conditions...during the construction,operation and maintenance phases....Finally,TransCanada has committed itself to taking responsibility,technical and financial,for any spills.”We hear little about Enbridge or Kinder Morgan and the ‘profiting’ project participants’(oil producers and shippers) agreeing to ‘take financial responsibility for ANY spills.’! Occasional mumbling is heard by these folks---but no firm commitment to pay for ALL spills! Conveniently,for them, the project participants profit as a group—regardless—but for A DISASTROUS SPILL ,in Burrard Inlet or Douglas Channel, or some remote ‘Kalamazoo like’ swamp land along the pipeline right of way, we’ll likely see a lot of finger pointing happening—leaving BC citizens to pay for clean up.That’s what confuses me ..no clarity about a commitment to pay...AND little apparent interest in reducing the probability and consequences of a spill(and unbelievably still ,sticking to Douglas Channel and Burrard Inlet routing). Unless we hear soon how these wannabe BC pipe liners will protect us from the inevitable screw up—maybe we should look at inviting new proposals? The oil will keep in the ground while we find the right proponent.We’re happy to assist our cousin provinces to transport their resources to market—so please, cousins, support us by telling the pipeline proponents to come up with some sensible schemes—that do not encumber BC residents unfairly.Seems fair.