|
| |
| 18. Juni 2014 |
Kanadische Regierung erlaubt den Bau der Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline
von den Teersandeabbaugebieten Albertas nach Kitimat |
| |
| In einer dürftigen Presseerklärung hat die kanadische Regierung mit dem konservativen Premierminister Stephen Harper an der Spitze am 17.06. offiziell erklärt, dass sie den Bau der Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline und den Bau des Öltankerhafens in Kitimat im Herzen des Great Bear Rainforest erlaubt. Damit folgt sie den Empfehlungen des Enbridge Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel (JRP), welches die Realisierung des Projektes empfohlen hat, da es im „öffentlichen Interesse“ Kanadas sei und durch Bau und Routinebetrieb keine „signifikant negativen Umwelteffekte“ zu erwarten seien, sofern 209 äußerst schwammig formulierte Kriterien eingehalten werden. Innerhalb von 7 Tagen wird jetzt das National Energy Board (NEB) Kanadas dem Enbridge Northern Gateway Projekt die sogenannten „certificates of public convenience and necessity“ ausstellen und das gesamte Pipelineprojekt mit dem Potenzial katastrophaler Umweltschäden und der extrem hohen Wahrscheinlichkeit für Ölpestereignisse zu Wasser wie auch zu Land mit noch nie gesehenen Ausmaßen kann mit der Unterstützung der kanadischen Regierung weiter vorangetrieben werden. |
| Unter Missachtung aller wissenschaftlichen Bedenken und aller Umweltschutzeinwände, unter Missachtung einer breiten Bevölkerungsmehrheit in BC, die sich immer wieder gegen die Realisierung des Projektes ausgesprochen hatte, gegen den erklärten Willen von über 130 First Nations-Gruppen und der Mehrheit der Einwohner von Kitimat, hat sich Stephen Harper erwartungsgemäß einmal mehr als willfähriger Erfüllungsgehilfe der Ölindustrie erwiesen. Die Gier nach den erwarteten Milliarden aus dem Ölgeschäft und der ungezügelte Machttrieb, Kanada zur führenden Ölsupermacht weltweit zu machen, haben ihn blind werden lassen gegenüber allen Risiken und Umweltschutzbedenken. In dem von der Ölindustrie geschmierten Räderwerk seines konservativen Kabinetts dürfte er das Ausmaß der Opposition, die Dauer der jetzt beginnenden juristischen Auseinandersetzungen und die Vehemenz des Widerstandes gegen den Bau des Northern Gateway Projektes bei weitem unterschätzt haben. |
| |
 |
| Die Pipelineroute des Northern Gateway Projektes |
© Considerations. Report of the Joint Review Panel
for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project. Volume 2 |
|
| |
| „It’s official – the war is on“, erklärte Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Vorsitzender der Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs unmittelbar nach der Entscheidung der kanadischen Regierung für den Bau des Projektes. Peter Lantin, Präsident der Haida First Nation, sagte: „We don’t throw around the threat of litigation or protest lightly. This is the time we will take the biggest stand of our lives.“ „We’ll see if Enbridge dares to put its shovels in the ground“, sagte Art Sterritt, Vorsitzender der Coastal First Nations. „First Nations and our allies will protect our rights and the interests of future generations. We will never allow oil tankers into our territorial waters.“ „We will do whatever is necessary“, antwortete Grand Chief Stewart Phillip auf die Frage nach den Mitteln des Zivilen Ungehorsams und er ergänzte, dass die Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs auch mit allen juristischen Mitteln bis zur letzten Instanz die Entscheidung für den Bau des Northern Gateway Projektes anfechten werde. |
| Die Yinka Dene Alliance und 31 First Nations-Gruppen in BC veröffentlichten unmittelbar nach der Entscheidung der Harper-Regierung folgende Presseerklärung: |
| „First Nations Going to Court United Against Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project |
| June 17, 2014 |
| Federal and provincial governments disregard Indigenous Title and Rights |
| Today, we unequivocally reject the Harper Government’s decision to approve the Enbridge Northern Gateway tanker and pipelines project and First Nations will immediately go to court to vigorously pursue all lawful means to stop the Enbridge project. We have governed our lands, in accordance to our Indigenous laws, since time immemorial. Our inherent Title and Rights and our legal authority over our respective territories have never been surrendered. Our inherent rights are human rights constitutionally enshrined, judicially recognized and embodied in international legal instruments including the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This project, and the federal process to approve it, violated our rights and our laws. We are uniting to defend our lands and waters of our respective territories. Our rights and laws compel us to act. Enbridge’s Northern Gateway tanker and pipeline project exposes all communities from Alberta to the Pacific Coast to the undeniable risk of pipeline and supertanker oil spills. First Nations and the majority of British Columbians believe this project poses an unacceptable risk to the environment, the health, the safety and livelihoods of all peoples throughout this province. We will defend our territories whatever the costs may be. |
| Council of the Haida Nation, Gitanmaax Band Council, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, Gitgaat, Gitxaala, Gitxsan (Delgamuukw), Haisla, Heiltsuk, KitasooXai’xais, Lax kw’alaams, Metlakatla, NadlehWhut’en, Nak’azdli, Neskonlith Indian Band, Office of the Wet’suwet’en, Saikuz First Nation, Takla Lake, Tlazten, Tsetsaut / Skii km Lax Ha, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Williams Lake Indian Band, Xatsull, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Coastal First Nations, St’at’imc Chiefs Council, Tahltan Central Council, Yinka Dene Alliance, BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, Union of BC Indian Chiefs.“ |
| |
 |
| Demonstration am 17. Juni 2014 in Vancouver gegen die Entscheidung der kanadischen Regierung, den Bau des Northern Gateway Projektes zu erlauben |
© The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck |
|
| |
| Nachfolgend finden Sie die Pressemitteilung der kanadischen Regierung, in welcher Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources, den Bau des Northern Gateway-Projektes unter Einhaltung der 209 Bedingungen, welche das JRP formuliert hatte, erlaubt: |
| „Government of Canada Accepts Recommendation to Impose 209 Conditions on Northern Gateway Proposal |
| Proponent must demonstrate how conditions will be met, undertake further consultations with Aboriginal communities as part of next steps in regulatory process Ottawa |
| Natural Resources Canada |
| The Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today issued the following statement outlining the Government of Canada’s decision after the Joint Review Panel’s independent review of the Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal to construct and operate two parallel pipelines to transport crude oil between Bruderheim, Alberta and Kitimat, British Columbia, and a marine terminal at the port of Kitimat. The proposal was submitted by Northern Gateway Pipelines Limited Partnership to the National Energy Board (NEB) for an environmental assessment and regulatory examination in 2010. This constituted the beginning of the regulatory process. |
| The Joint Review Panel for the Northern Gateway Project was an independent body established by the Minister of the Environment and the National Energy Board to review the project. The Panel’s rigorous science-based review included feedback from over 1,450 participants in 21 different communities, reviewing over 175,000 pages of evidence and receiving 9,000 letters of comment. The NEB is responsible for regulating some 73,000 kilometres of pipelines transporting crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products across Canada. |
| In December 2013, the Joint Review Panel found that construction and operation of the Northern Gateway Pipelines project is in the public interest, subject to 209 conditions being met by the proponent. After carefully reviewing the report, the Government accepts the independent Panel’s recommendation to impose 209 conditions on Northern Gateway Pipelines’ proposal. |
| ‚Today constitutes another step in the process. Moving forward, the proponent must demonstrate to the independent regulator, the NEB, how it will meet the 209 conditions. It will also have to apply for regulatory permits and authorizations from federal and provincial governments. In addition, consultations with Aboriginal communities are required under many of the 209 conditions that have been established and as part of the process for regulatory authorizations and permits. The proponent clearly has more work to do in order to fulfill the public commitment it has made to engage with Aboriginal groups and local communities along the route.‘ |
| The National Energy Board will now issue Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity.“ |
| In einer Zusatzinformation zu dieser Presseerklärung werden die nächsten Schritte zur möglichen Realisierung des Projektes erläutert und es wird jedem klar, dass es bis zu einem tatsächlichen Baubeginn noch Jahre dauern kann: |
| „Next Steps on Northern Gateway project |
| On May 27, 2010, Northern Gateway Pipelines Limited Partnership filed an application with the National Energy Board (NEB) to construct and operate a 1,170 km, 525,000 barrel per day crude oil pipeline and a 193,000 barrel per day condensate pipeline between Bruderheim, Alberta, and Kitimat, British Columbia, and a marine terminal at the port of Kitimat. |
| Following a rigorous, science-based review that provided opportunities for the public to submit their views and comments on the project directly to the Joint Review Panel (JRP), in December of 2013 the independent Panel released its report. The report found that the project’s benefits outweighed the potential burdens and risks, and recommended that construction and operation of the project was in the public interest, subject to 209 conditions being met by the proponent. |
| After carefully reviewing the report, the Government accepted the Panel’s recommendation to impose 209 conditions on Northern Gateway Pipelines’ proposal. The National Energy Board will now issue Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity. This is only one step in the process. There are a number of major steps before construction can begin. The timing of construction will depend on how the proponent proceeds. |
| Before construction can begin, the proponent will need to seek approval from the NEB for the detailed pipeline route and location of the final right of way. As part of this process, it must publish a notice in local newspapers and provide a written notice to all owners of lands proposed to be acquired. Where objections are filed within 30 days, the NEB will hold public hearings on the detailed route in the affected areas in order to consider landowner concerns and the proponent’s views. In parallel, the proponent will need to seek various regulatory approvals from the federal government and the governments of British Columbia and Alberta. |
| Federally, these include: |
| Approvals from National Energy Board to authorize the construction and continued operation of the pipelines; |
| Authorizations under the Fisheries Act; |
| Approval under the Indian Act to cross Indian Reserves, and authorization under the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act with respect to issuance of authorization to use lands held by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada; |
| Authorization under the Canadian Transportation Act for construction crossing a railway line; |
| Approval and licensing issued under the Explosives Act; |
| In addition, the Province of Alberta would be responsible for issuing upwards of 50 permits and authorizations under the Water Act, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Public Lands Act, Alberta Forests Act, Historical Resources Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Public Health Act, Alberta Weed Control Act, and the Public Highways Act. |
| The Province of British Columbia would be responsible for issuing approximately 60 permits and authorizations under the Forest Act, Forest and Range Practices Act, Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, Weed Control Act, Land Act, Agricultural Land Commission Act, Fisheries Act, Fisheries Protection Act, Water Act, Environmental Management Act, Wildlife Act, Heritage Conservation Act, Transportation Act, and Industrial Roads Act. |
| The proponent must also demonstrate to the independent regulator, the National Energy Board, how it will meet the 209 conditions imposed on the project as a condition of approval. These include requirements such as preparing and implementing a Caribou Habitat Restoration Plan, and developing a research program on the behaviour and cleanup of heavy oils. Additional consultations with Aboriginal communities are also required under many of the conditions and as part of the process for regulatory authorizations and permits. In addition to the many steps the proponent must take to meet legal requirements before it proceeds with construction, it would need to fulfill the public commitment it has made to engage with Aboriginal groups and local communities along the route, to better understand their concerns and find ways to address them.“ |
| |
 zurück |
|
|
