Mayor wants Vancouver to seek intervenor status at Kinder Morgan pipeline hearings

Vancouver is looking at seeking intervenor status at National Energy Board hearings on Kinder Morgan's proposed expansion of the TransMountain pipeline. Mayor Gregor Robertson tabled a motion proposing the action today (December 4), following a report from deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston on the potential impacts of increased oil tankers in region. Kinder Morgan is expected to submit its formal application to the National Energy Board this month to twin its pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby. According to the deputy city manager's presentation to council, the current capacity for response to an oil spill in the region is "uncoordinated, insufficient, and untested", and municipal and regional emergency planners "do not have adequate information to develop response plans and ensure public safety".