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Drinking water threat ‘our Standing Rock’ Trans mountain pipeline
Coldwater First Nation vows to defend supply David P. Ball
Metro | Vancouver
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A small First Nation in B.C.’s Interior has warned Ottawa it won’t let its drinking water supply be risked without a fight. And according to a Nov. 28 joint federal-provincial letter obtained by Metro, Ottawa acknowledged the risk to Coldwater band’s aquifer from Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline — just one day before approving the project. “These guys have a good case,” said lawyer Matthew Kirchner, who filed a challenge of Ottawa’s decision for the band earlier this month. “There’s uncertainty
about what the impacts would be on their water system — their aquifer — and it’s essential to understand.” The pipeline expansion, now approved by federal and provincial governments, would increase oil flow from Alberta’s oilsands to B.C.’s Lower Mainland threefold and is set to start work in September. The First Nation raised concerns about the proximity of the Trans Mountain route to its aquifer, upon which 90 per cent of the nearly 800 residents depend for drinking water. Federal officials took note, too, but still green-lit the project, according to the letter sent to Coldwater Chief Lee Spahan. “Coldwater could be significantly impacted from a pipeline spill as the community relies primarily on an aquifer crossed by the project for its drinking water,” the letter stated, co-signed by the federal Crown Consultation Lead for major projects and the B.C. Environmental Assessment Of-
fice’s executive project director. continue to work, diligently to “Coldwater members also rely achieve this.” on cultural foods for subsistence Addressing the aquifer issue and are at greater risk for adverse for the First Nation is one of the effects from an oil spill.” conditions of the Crown’s project Trans Mountain acknowledged approval. the band’s “concerns over pro“But that’s after the fact,” tecting their rights and title and Kirchner said. “This is, ‘Let’s the environment,” according study it, then build it,’ not, ‘Let’s to a statement study it, reconemailed in resider whether to approve it, sponse to Metro’s questions. and then maybe The firm said These guys have a build it.’” it’s “been en- good case. We know If the pipeline gaging” with expansion proColdwater’s lead- there’s a real threat. ceeds as planned ers since 2013. Lawyer Matthew Kirchner this autumn, “Those discusSpahan hinted sions have focused on addressing that the battle over water could Coldwater’s including routing potentially take on similarities and protecting the Coldwater to the water standoff at Standing aquifer,” a Trans Mountain Rock Sioux Reservation. spokesperson stated. “We share “This is about our drinking the same objective of ensuring water; it is our Standing Rock,” the construction and operation he said. “It’ll be up to my memof the project minimizes impacts bership how they decide ... but to the environment and specific- we’re going to do whatever it ally, the Coldwater aquifer. takes to protect our drinking “We have worked, and will water.”