Environmental groups were disappointed last week when a Quebec parliamentary committee came out in favour of Enbridge's controversial Line 9B reversal project, which could bring tar sands crude through Quebec. Fortunately, the committee did stipulate 18 conditions:
- The creation of an oversight committee composed of federal, provincial and Enbridge representatives.
- That Enbridge provide Quebec's environment department with its inspection data so that an independent expert can evaluate the integrity of Line 9B, as well as Enbridge's inspection and maintenance practices.
- Make sure that Enbridge provide a sufficient financial guarantee to pay for any damage in the event of a disaster, including after the pipeline is no longer in operation.
- That Enbridge develop an emergency plan for drinking water.
- That Enbridge conduct hydrostatic studies on the integrity of the pipeline (run water through the pipeline at high pressure to test for flaws that could lead to a rupture)
Equiterre and many other groups – citizens groups, student groups, First Nations groups, etc. – have already expressed disappointment at the evaluation format chosen by Quebec. The project should have been evaluated at greater length, and via an independent environmental assessment.
If the project does go through, we hope at the very least that the government of Quebec will defend the committee's recommendations to the National Energy Board.
Read the committee's full report (in French only)
