The existing Trans Mountain Pipeline goes through North Thompson Park. If the pipeline is twinned, where will the second line run?
Routing of the proposed twinning of the Trans Mountain Pipeline through North Thompson Provincial Park and other provincial parks was a key topic of interest or concern during the most recent phase of public feedback gathering, according to the latest engagement summary report from Kinder Morgan, the pipeline’s owner.
Other key topics included routing through Weyerhaeuser subdivision in Clearwater, the Raft River crossing, and specific landowner interests regarding routing on their properties.
According to the company, a number of landowners felt they had been well treated by Trans Mountain. There is a positive historical relationship with the company and appreciation of how business has been conducted over the years.
About 45 people attended a public information session held in Clearwater, while about a dozen took part in one held for Blue River and Avola.
During Kinder Morgan’s public information session in Clearwater last November the company announced that it was no longer considering running the second pipeline through Raft River Valley.
The Raft River route apparently had been considered because of difficult terrain near Messiter Summit north of Avola.
Kinder Morgan announced in January that the scope of the project had been increased to a capacity of 890,000 barrels per day.
A total of 980 km of 36 inch pipeline would be installed. In the North Thompson Valley, the stretch from Darfield to Black Pines was twinned several years ago. In that stretch an inactivated line would be reactivated rather than a new pipeline installed.
Eleven new pump stations are to be added, bringing the total to 35. These would include a new station at Blackpool to supplement the existing one, and two new pump stations at Black Pines.
Total capital cost of the project is put at $5.4 billion.
According to Kinder Morgan, stakeholder activities in the first half of 2013 will focus on seeking input on the project’s environmental and socio-economic assessment (ESA) as well as input into potential route alternatives where the pipeline will deviate from the existing right-of-way.
The engagement activities will include a mixture of on-line and in-person opportunities targeted at individuals with specific interests in the project.
Field programs will take place from April 1 to Sept. 30, 2013 and will include soil, wildlife, fisheries, wetland, rare plant and rare plant communities surveys.
More information about the summary report is available at www.transmountain.com.