![]() McDade also wrote Trans Mountain has not provided evidence it would be impossible to meet the permitting requirements, and that before the commission accepts such a claim, it should be subjected to detailed scrutiny. He further noted the CER is not a municipal regulator, and it “should be cautious” about overruling the very department that would have to respond to any emergency. “It is Trans Mountain’s failure to follow the Fire Services Bylaw and Building Bylaw that has prevented the issuance of permits, and it is Trans Mountain resistance to following these city obligations that has led to any time delays,” he wrote. 23, on behalf of Burnaby, Ratcliff LLP senior counsel Gregory McDade responded to Trans Mountain’s request to sidestep fire safety requirements to say the city recognizes Trans Mountain’s terminals have federal approval, and the city cannot reject permits if it would be impossible for TMX to comply, but said this “constitutional issue does not arise here,” calling the fire safety bylaws “reasonable” and “constitutionally valid.” He also said construction delays of “several months” would result in “hundreds of millions in excess capital costs.” In an affidavit from last year, Trans Mountain CEO Ian Anderson said each month the company is delayed from bringing the pipeline into service represents about $100 million in lost revenue. The Crown corporation says it has “sought to satisfy” Burnaby by providing a fire truck access plan, and amending it “repeatedly,” but “some of Burnaby’s requests cannot be implemented at the (Westridge Marine Terminal) and Burnaby Terminal due to site constraints, including grading and pipe location.” In documents filed with the regulator, Trans Mountain says Burnaby is being “unreasonable” by not issuing its building permits. “With these existing risks in mind, it is very concerning to me that Trans Mountain would be seeking confirmation of fire lane access plans on the basis of a lower standard than the mandatory minimum contained in Burnaby’s Fire Services Bylaw,” he wrote. “We are committed to ensuring the Project incorporates all appropriate measures to protect the cultural, environmental and local Indigenous interests in the lands and waters through construction and into operation.“As a fire chief with extensive experience in the context of planning hydrocarbon storage facility firefighting response procedures and pre-plan development, it is my view that there are multiple potential tank fire scenarios within the terminals that would be unextinguishable due to lack of safe firefighting positions. “Over the coming months, we will continue our engagement with Indigenous communities along the construction corridor,” said Anderson. The company estimated that approximately 4,200 workers are expected to be employed in communities along the route in the fourth quarter of 2019. “The timelines for approval of all outstanding regulatory matters could have an impact on Project costs, schedules and final in-service dates however, if approvals are received as anticipated, the Trans Mountain Expansion Project will be in-service by mid-2022,” said the company. ![]() Trans Mountain said it expects it will receive clearance of all other outstanding regulatory approvals and permits for the remaining construction areas. “With the first wave of regulatory approvals complete, we are confident that we have a path forward by which the Expansion Project construction can commence.”Ī computer rendering of how the Westridge Marine Terminal will look after changes are made for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. “I am pleased to announce another significant milestone for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project with the commencement of construction activities and the issuance of the notice to some contractors to begin mobilizing equipment and crews in select areas in August and September 2019,” said Ian Anderson, president and CEO of Trans Mountain Corporation, in the news release. While some sites along the pipeline route won’t see work continue until regulatory approvals and permits are in place, there will be an “immediate return to work” at the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and on land at Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby. That’s according to a news release sent today (Wednesday), in which the company says “notice to proceed” directives have been given to some of its prime construction contractors, “triggering mobilization of the initial workforce necessary to build the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.”Ĭontractors have now been given 30 days to “mobilize equipment and commence the process of hiring workers, procuring goods and services, and developing detailed construction work plans,” said the news release. ![]() An “immediate return to work” has been issued by Trans Mountain for two Burnaby sites for the pipeline expansion project.
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