Same old Enbridge!

Here we go again—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! The annoying folks in BC aren’t likely to cause Enbridge to change their ways--much. I’m guessing that Enbridge could walk away from their Northern Gateway project and with only slightly ‘ripple’ on their balance sheet?

Yes all governments are desperate for revenue and our cries for safer practices are not likely to be given serious consideration —until the polls become a factor—you know that most significant item in a politicians survival handbook—‘POLLS’.Unfortunately we all love our cars,airplanes ships,etc. so the law makers (in Canada and US) have to take the lead or, in my opinion, the powerful pipe liners will just continue to bully their way, as they please!

The folks in Michigan are facing the same old Enbridge it seems—with their Enbridge expansion project –not far from the 2010 Kalamazoo river fiasco. We can only watch and wonder how the Michigan situation will evolve.

Our BC Enbridge situation is creating a significant public and native outcry—we have to wait and see—we know most pipelines eventually are built –and millions of miles 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—starting with the Boards of Directors.

Little Oversight for Enbridge Pipeline Route that Skirts Lake Michigan

----see this link for full story---Dec 27,2012

http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20121227/indiana-enbridge-pipeline-6B-lake-michigan-rivers-dilbit-oil-spill-wetlands?page=4

Excerpts follow;

In the northwestern corner of Indiana a major pipeline project is planned that will carry vast quantities of heavy Canadian crude oil across four rivers that flow into Lake Michigan, where 10 million people get their drinking water. The pipeline will cross one river just 11 miles from the lake. It crosses the other three rivers less than 20 miles from the lake.

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.

Since its 2010 Kalamazoo pipeline spill, Enbridge has taken steps to make its pipelines safer, most of them in response to a Corrective Action Order issued by PHMSA. The company has developed better tools and technology for worst case waterborne spills, increased spending on pipeline integrity management, added new emergency training programs for employees and will spend $50 million between 2012 and 2013 to improve "equipment, training and overall response capabilities," Springer said.

Elephant in the room!

Subject: the elephant in the room

Attention:Enbridge Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan pipe liners

This ELEPHANT REMAINS IN THE ROOM---who pays when that ‘incident’ happens--not IF, but WHEN! Some talk of BILLIONS of dollars per incident---when asked ‘who pays?’ usually deafening SILENCE ensues.

As a citizen (tax payer) I do not want to pay the cost of the clean up for the inevitable screw ups—and endless lawsuits which are bound to follow...??

Good design and construction is anticipated for the pipeline and shipping;ok. But who’s designing and constructing the DISASTER INSURANCE PLAN to cover cost of THAT INCIDENT?

The beneficiaries; there are several—the Federal and Provincial Governments ; and Local Constituencies are desperate for the revenue--the oil producer, the pipeline operator and the shippers too will benefit handsomely I’d guess---and all these ‘revenuers’ and ‘profiteers’ could buy MUCH NEEDED PUBLIC SUPPORT if we could see a business plan that would show how they, together, will create a DISASTER FUND to cover any and all costs for minor or major incidents and law suits.

And yes, the governments too would need to contribute part of their ‘take’ to this professional,commercially developed Disaster Cost recovery plan. Call the big underwriters—I bet they would be happy to counsel in development of such a disaster plan...

I would hope that such a commercially developed scheme would include some form of ‘built in’, on-going checks and balances (due diligence) by the insurer to ensure that each payer is maintaining certain standards of practice that would minimize the occurrence of incidents???Rates to vary in accordance with the deductible and the insured’s ‘safe practice’ records!! A scary thought possibly for Enbridge and KM—and the rest of the project participants—but I need the comfort in knowing that those benefitting will not be burdening ME with the cost of that eventual ‘incident’!

OK?

 

stop crazy KINDER MORGAN scheme,before it's too late

I sent this around to local and major press--let's see if anyone cares?

Obama: ‘Where I was wrong is in my belief that the oil companies had their act together when it came to worst case scenarios.’— May 2010 , press conference.

President Obama sums up the the common ‘message’ that major corporations such as BP,and Exxon would have us believe; likewise for pipe liner Enbridge in Kalamazoo,Michigan .and Kitimat.

Now closer to home and Kinder Morgan...

An Experts Panel presentation about ‘CRUDE OIL EXPORTS THROUGH SECOND NARROWS’ –was given to the Vancouver City Council,July 5 ,2010))---see link http://www.georgiastrait.org/files/share/kerSafetyExpertPanel-PB-0v1-61-5July2010-rdx.pdf

Flip through this report and then decide what you can do to stop this crazy scheme to expand oil tanker traffic in our busy Burrard Inlet.

Also,think about the potential for an oil tanker ‘hit’ on the CNR Second Narrows Rail bridge and the economic impact of a damaged rail bridge....read about the work done by Tony Au (rail lift bridge operator;now retired,I believe)—here’s the link

http://www.cn.ca/documents/Corporate_Citizenship_People/Summer2008-TonyAu-en.pdf

and here’s an excerpt from this report...

“Tony’s ability to juggle the incoming rail and

marine traffic .....that kind of precise coordination

actually requires meticulous attention,

points out Plant Maintenance supervisor,

Don Brears.......

POINT: Incidents do happen—what we must do, is minimize the probability and the resultant consequences of that incident--

What to do?

1. Ensure that all operating staff are competent and trained—make training a priority for Board of Directors attention—

2. As for the Burrard Inlet---remove all Kinder Morgan facilities and oil tanker traffic to Roberts Bank—where they BELONG!

Shipping , pipelines and rail are vital services---we need to make maximum effort to do the sensible thing.

If you agree make your views known—contact your MP,MLA, Media favorite ;everyone you know before it’s too late to make common sense changes...

ENBRIDGE & KINDER MORGAN; DO IT RIGHT--or

Subject: Enbridge and Kinder Morgan,do it RIGHT or GO HOME

 

Enbridge have done a pitifully poor job of rebuilding public confidence after the Kalamazoo fiasco—what I want to see is a Board od Directors that gives a damn—instead we see a lot of pretty pictures from Janet Holder(sometimes misleading stuff )—we peasants can see thru this stuff and will see to it that our politicians will pay at the polls if they don’t bring the Enbridge Board od directors out of hiding—and stand before us and tell us how they’ve changed their culture—yes repent—‘have an operations safety EPIPHANY’..Enbridge no doubt have very competent operating and technical staff—put them on the road ,at moderated public events –their knowledgeable staff could make a powerful ,positive impression on the public—Obama and Harper,etc. stand in front of National audiences and in a moderated setting are put to the test---that’s where the public can and need to be convinced –Janet’s pretty ads are not doing the job..the NEB stuff is not seen or understood by the public—Enbridge need public acceptance and the the politicians are starting to ‘run scared’-

That’s my suggestion for Enbridge to dig themselves and their ‘supporting governments’ out of this deep hole—there are obvious benefits from pipe lines that we need and want—but trying to bully their way through does not appear to be working??

Also here’s an earlier attempt at ‘letter’--

We pay dearly for the politicians --and also for our major media--but all have gone into hiding it seems. I can't get any response from anyone--neither Enbridge,Kinder Morgan,major newspapers--or the community papers(although for a while these community papers and a few politicians did respond). Is Enbridge really controlling ALL MEDIA now with their huge,annoying,very profit making ads about the Northern Gateway pipeline project? Seems to be working.I suppose it's time for me to stop my subscription to the Sun--and turn off the obedient CKNW--and stick with media that cares..

Enbridge are still bullying their way through the Hearings---Kinder Morgan are merrily planning to introduce the very large crude oil tankers into Burrard Inlet(instead of Roberts Bank;where they belong!)--and nary a peep from anyone lately..

The recent shipping incident 'near misses' in Prince Rupert and Roberts Bank make me nervous--the best 'gadgets' in the world won't stop shipping incidents so long as humans are on board those ships..all we can do is minimize the probability of mishaps by adequate employee training and holding the Boards accountable for their corporate screw ups .But 'no' the pilots and the tug boat operators seem to be left to bear the brunt of 'accusations' for faulty performance...who permitted those folks to do their jobs with inadequate training---Another significant example for instance--consider the Kalamazoo,Michigan fiasco on the 40+ year old pipeline.Who,by implication, received the bulk of the blame.The operators in the Edmonton control room--you know those 'Keystone Kops', as labelled by the US National Transportation Safety Board( NTSB) . If the folks in the Edmonton control room had been properly trained would that incident have occurred? Who allowed those in the control room staff to behave in such a disorganized fashion--those that denied the necessary training some suggest--ultimately the ENBRIDGE Board of Directors!Similarly ,who was responsible to 'allow' the Kalamazoo pipeline ,that ultimately failed,to get into such a condition which permitted it to fail under fairly normal operating conditions--it wasn't the field personnel or the technical staff--it, ultimately ,was the Board od Directors--if not the Board,then WHO?

We are still nervous about the Enbridge bunch--no apparent culture change--just lots of talk and those ubiquitous ,sometimes misleading ads .What we should see, is an Enbridge Board 'operations safety Epiphany' announcing their new culture and full Board commitment to their new mission statement .The Board hides,the major media and politicians hide or abide..we peasants are left to question but no one hears---so the bullies win,maybe.The peasants are not happy,the polls tell us--are the politicos getting nervous?Remenber 'polls' are the most valued guideline in a politicians survival manual..so maybe the pipelines,either one,aren't yet a slam dunk...

OK peasants--keep pressing your favourite MP,MLA,Media person--to keep these potentially valued projects --but insist that the proponents do ir right--OR GO HOME!

I'm guessing that we can soon draw other ,more cooperative proponents to our province --ENBRIDGE and KINDER MORGAN--it's getting late--you stil have time to convince us that we should allow you to profit BUT first the pipe liners must show us that they will listen and do what's needed to minimize the probability of an 'incident'--There have been many sensible suggestions offered but little attention has been given these suggestions--a reminder of some(for Enbridge) I've seen

1.move out of Douglas Channel

2.let the Enbridge Board show in writing us that Enbridge has a new 'culture'

3. stop the silly ads and put your best people on the road at MODERATED presentations and DEBATES and let the BC public across the province judge the quality of your team.(most people do not attend NEB Hearings --we need to see those in charge , in person--).

And for the other pipeliner--one big issue

1.move all shipping and storage OUT OF BURRARD INLET and to ROBERTS BANK IT BELONGS.

2.we would alsoike to see your Board members and senior managers at similar public presentations---our North American leaders(Harper,Obama) go to moderated debates to sell their policies and their 'persons' --you to can help the public to support your proposals --the NEB has a purpose but you also need public support these days--if your proposal is beneficial for us then you need to convince the public--the politicians watch the polls--and they are getting nervous?

Your move

We need to see a NEW ENBRIDGE.

Premier Christy Clark:

The Northern Gateway project proposal has potential benefits for BC—the problem is that Enbridge are doing a pitifully poor job of informing the BC public ,at large,about the benefits—the public see the Enbridge that allowed the Kalamzoo pipeline failure to happen—it didn’t happen by itself—it was allowed to happen by a Enbridge—and their Board of Directors..who is to blame if not the Board?Their Board is doing nothing to convince me that they have changed an iota! Janet Holder and those silly ,annoying ads are counter productive---the benefits of this project would be welcomed by all BC citizens—if we can find the right pipeline operator—Enbridge need to do some ‘down to earth communicating’ with the public –see suggestions in following note which I sent to Enbridge.Almost every move Enbridge makes seems to lack credibility—phony ads showing an island free Douglas Channel---adding half BILLION DOLLARS in the 11th hour for project SAFETY—leaving the shipping terminal at Kitimat is especially dumb—Enbridge are not showing their faces to the public of BC(yes they have gab fests in local areas)but in the final analysis Enbridge need to let the BC public ,province wide,to understand the pipeline—again some suggestions below.The public are not convinced –the politicians are nervous—there may still be time to convince the public that Enbridge wants to do the job—bullying in not supposed to be allowed in BC..Enbridge shouldn’t be allowed to bully their way ! Someone needs to tell Enbridge to get their act together and help the public to accept the NEW ENBRIDGE—the old ENBRIDGE is still suspect...maybe we need to start again and find an pipe liner that understands that we BC ‘peasants’ want someone we can trust.(public opinion can allow this project to proceed—or these same folks can look for someone else to do the job!---‘pipeline’ and ‘political’ survival are at stake here in my opinion—.

Enbridge needs to fix stuff!--or GO HOME!

Draft letter to Vancouver Observer.

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF MILES OF oil PIPE LINES..AND MORE WILL BE BUILT..So why the big fuss about this proposed Enbridge pipeline? I suppose it’s more about WHO is planning to build the line—Enbridge’ ‘record’ leaves us skeptical—the old Enbridge has earned a reputation which will be difficult to FIX ! Following are some of my suggestions—can Enbridge make these changes—or do we just look for a different organization with a record and culture of operations safety?? I suggest that Enbridge, with a major commitment , might be able to gain public acceptance??Ha Ha you say---I’ve sent the note below to Enbridge and the major media—but guess what—no response. I doubt that Enbridge will be able to change---they can likely bully their way through the hearings process and public resistance –while the politicians remain in hiding—The media ‘love’ the revenue from those,ubiquitous ,annoying Enbridge ads—public opinion may yet cause the politicians to lead ? Again, ha ha ! Without major media support ‘we peasants’ won’t be heard---hopefully the community media,such as yours, will help to bring the government out of hiding and to do their job?

My Comment email follows...

Enbridge,in my opinion, have problems,still;

1. about OPERATIONS SAFETY– lingers from the NTSB report about the Kalamazoo pipeline failure fiasco-

2. IMAGE is hurt about MISLEADING ADS such as the ad which showed a wide and clear path through Douglas channel —the ads seem counter productive and certainly they are becoming ANNOYING.

3. we see little evidence about the BENEFITS for BC public...instead we still see problems.

WHAT TO DO??

About 1.---Enbridge Board of Directors need ‘to have an OPERATIONS SAFETY EPIPHANY’—and show us in detail (new policy and organization)and explain how Enbridge will safely manage pipelines.

About 2. Move OUT OF DOUGLAS Channel to a more open port location .Put your highly skilled people ‘on the road’ to explain at MODERATED presentations and debates how Enbridge can and will do their job ....the public will then judge the quality of your team.

About 3. Let Enbridge and Governments sit down and hammer out a sensible deal .There are 4 PROFITING PARTNERS in this project—the oil producers,the pipe liner, the loading terminal and storage facilities owner and the SHIP owners ! Show us, in detail, the NET BENEFITS for B.C., ASSUMING the ‘profiting partners’ BUILD an OIL SPILL DISASTER FUND to protect BC taxpayers from the clean up cost of any minor or major shipping or pipeline spill !

The public polls show that the public are not buying your proposal, as is!

The polls are a key consideration in all politician’s survival handbook—!

So Enbridge--fix stuff (‘safety’,’image’ and ‘benefits’)now—or go home.

Simple as that!

Trust Enbridge?

Trust Enbridge?

Yes,the Enbridge Gang have an lingering image problem(a making of their own); largely due to the ‘mess’ created in the Michigan-Kalamazoo fiasco.

NEB Hearings are proceeding and will likely result in ‘technical’ approval,in Dec. 2013.—but the public and political ‘negative image problem’ remains—Enbridge still needs to CONVINCE THE PUBLIC of their NEW operations safe CULTURE—Janet’s endless pretty picture ads are not convincing—they are becoming annoying—let’s hear from the mouths of the BIG GUNS their commitment to their new culture-get on the media a talk to us—convince us ,personally---we might get to believe in you?

Al Monaco (new President and CEO)has been quoted recently discussing the ‘possibility’ of moving ship loading to Prince Rupert - tying executive bonuses to safety and security -- replacing old pipelines; a start—but just TALK so far-- ACTION is what’s required!..

Convince the willing members of the ENBRIDGE Board to ‘have an OPERATIONS SAFETY EPIPHANY’. Publicize where Enbridge’s decision makers will be appearing (at MODERATED local gatherings,major and local media,etc..)to show us that Enbridge ‘operators’ know their stuff— the public will ‘ judge’ the QUALITY of your team.

Show us your NEW ORGANIZATION– I suggest that you include CORPORATE TECHNICAL OFFICER,(CTO ) who,along with a ‘team of your best’, will be responsible to keep you and the Board continually apprised of system conditions and world wide technical issues as they develop in the pipe line universe. Show us how THE BOARD will be held ACCOUNTABLE .Let the Board show us that their systems will not be neglected and allow another Michigan-Kalamazoo like disaster. Be LEADERS. Don’t just follow good operating and technical standards—SET THE STANDARDS!

Christy Clark and Al Monaco should get their teams together and HAMMER OUT A DEAL—and SHOW US how this pipeline can be built to BENEFIT ALL parties.This shouldn’t be an ‘US AGAINST THEM’ game !

Let Enbridge convince US that they can be trusted(bullying won’t work!)—a culture ‘shift’ with written PUBLIC MANIFESTO to show us their new marching orders.

If they will not SHOW US how they are planning to change , then we should just send Enbridge HOME and maybe start again.

elephant in the room

Most folks ,when asked about our looming pipelines projects (the Kinder Morgan twinning project and Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline) are still unsure.Currently there lots of press about Northern Gateway pipeline and the many issues raised . This pipeline construction matter will be decided after this ‘rigorous due process’ . So far so good.The Kinder Morgan (KM) project is just barely underway and the their NEB hearings will commence likely in 2013.

When these projects are discussed,most folks soon express a serious concern about the oil tanker spill—anywhere along our coastline.I call it(the oil tanker issue ) the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!

This shipping component is passed off as ‘not a problem’ in Northern Gateway ads.—we’re told about very modern ships,good navigation systems ,double hulls,etc.

see Termpol report link

https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-eng/livelink.exe/fetch/2000/90464/90552/384192/620327/624911/701712/792408/E11-3-2_-_Transport_Canada_-_TERMPOL_REVIEW_PROCESS_REPORT_ON_THE_ENBRIDGE_NORTHERN_GATEWAY_PROJECT_-_A2Q4A7.pdf?nodeid=792412&vernum=0

This report is specific to the (proponent)Northern Gateway Pipeline project and basically tells me that various ‘government’ agencies have reviewed shipping material submitted to them by the proponent—which was ‘accepted’—and that’s it---no public hearing—NO PUBLIC INPUT OR SCRUTINY--our government ‘experts’ DECIDE if the proponent info will satisfy the public interest..that’s it!

Then things get fuzzy-- the project proponent (Enbridge)THEN tells us that the shipping is not their responsibility! KM will no doubt say the same thing.

WHAT?

I did receive information from the Government Major Projects Management Office www.mpmo-bggp.gc.ca that explained the process as it exists—BUT ,again, there’s no suggestion that any serious oil tanker spill will be dealt with expeditiously by the shipper—are the BC public left to pay for any major spill cleanup? The $35.7 million over 2 years mentioned by the MPMO may cover a MINOR spill—possibly.What about the BIG ONE?

The issue is not IF an oil spill occurs—it’s WHEN an oil spill occurs! Be it Douglas Channel or Burrard Inlet,or wherever?---OK we aren’t going to stop shipping but we can insist that the proponents minimize the probability of a serious spill incident..let’s hear their solutions.

And the proponents could come up with a formula to CREATE a spill disaster fund –there are 4 major major ‘project partners’ ; oil producer,oil pipe liner, the loading terminal and storage facilities owner/operator and the shippers..who all PROFIT—

and the public who bear all the RISK!

There are also the big ‘silent partners’ ; the governments who desperately want/need the resultant revenue from these projects---and ultimately the public vote!

How to create a formula for building a disaster fund is the challenge—I’d guess that many insurance corporations could put together a scheme that could help build such a fund---and not leave the public holding the bag when this unwelcome major oil spill event occurs---However , likely there’s little incentive for the project partners to willingly enter into any such discussions—and the government’s don’t appear to be in a good bargaining position—so is it the status quo—and ultimately, the lawyers could be the only winners!

The Elephant remains in the room.