Around a half dozen South Cariboo residents attended a meeting hosted by the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) on Tuesday, April 16 at the Creekside Seniors Centre to discuss the Sunrise Expansion Project (SEP).
The SEP is a proposed project by West Coast Energy Inc, a subsidiary of Enbridge, which would add 11 new looping segments to existing pipelines, three new overhead power lines totalling 34 km in length and four new compressors at existing stations across the southern portion of the BC Pipeline System, known as T South. This would include a new pipeline loop, overhead powerlines and an “electric driven” upgrade to the pumping station near 93 Mile.
The CER was in town to begin the public hearing process for the project, which they expect West Coast Energy to formally propose in May, beginning an assessment and approval process. The CER noted that the process will be a massive one due to the size of the project.
“It’s kinda going to be like the Cadillac of hearing processes,” said Josh Brading, the director of public participation for the CER. “It will be up to the Commission to decide, but for a big project like this you normally have a lot of hearing process steps.”
The CER is Canada’s energy and safety regulator, who regulate pipelines and energy development projects.
During their presentation, the CER outlined their hearing process which begins with consultation, first with the company making the proposal and then engaging with the public and indigenous peoples about any concerns they may have.
READ MORE: Enbridge proposing an expansion to southern portion of pipeline in BC
After taking into account public feedback they conduct an assessment of the economic, environmental and social impacts of the project. The CER will then publish their recommendations and decide whether or not to grant their approval. This process can take up to a maximum of 450 days after being initiated.
South Cariboo resident Erin Filtness attended the meeting to listen and raise some of her concerns. Filtness said she is typically against pipelines on environmental grounds, such as the impacts it has on climate and forest fires, noting that “we should be moving away from it.”
If the proposed project is approved, however, she would like to know what sort of benefits the South Cariboo could gain from it.
“I would like to know how 100 Mile House is going to benefit from this company - like what are they going to add to the community besides temporary jobs and temporary money in our community?” Filtness asked. “I would like to know what they are going to do that is going to permanently help us.”
Brading said that he does not know whether or not people would be staying in camps or hotels in the community if the project went ahead. He further noted he does not know how many people would come to 100 Mile House to work on those upgrades.
“That’s the kind of information that would probably come in the application process - the applications talk about the economic benefits to a project.”
Filtness indicated that she intends to pursue the question about economic benefits that would come to 100 Mile House in the future.
If approved the pipeline upgrades are not expected to begin construction until 2026 at the earliest.