Fine issued to Trans Mountain pipeline for harming birds reduced from $88K to $4K | 24CA News
The $88,000 penalty handed to Trans Mountain Pipeline nearly a 12 months in the past for harming nesting birds has been diminished upon evaluation to only $4,000.
In the choice, the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator stated Trans Mountain Pipeline’s violation of environmental laws geared toward defending nesting migratory birds was “unacceptable.”
However, the three-person evaluation panel additionally stated the quantity of the penalty was not correctly decided, characterizing the “level of actual harm as low, given that the species impacted are common species, and the number of individuals impacted is relatively low compared to the estimated populations.”
The Trans Mountain pipeline enlargement challenge will triple the capability of the prevailing 1,150-kilometre line between Edmonton and Burnaby to about 890,000 barrels per day of diluted bitumen, lighter crudes and refined gas.
According to the evaluation, the primary violation on April 21, 2021, concerned the destruction of an Anna’s hummingbird nest and egg by employees clearing timber alongside the pipeline route in Spread 7, the part between Langley and Burnaby.
A number of days later, Environment and Climate Change Canada halted pipeline development for 4 months — till the top of hen nesting season — in an space alongside the Brunette River in Burnaby.
A second violation on May 8, 2021, noticed employees destroy an unmarked American robin’s nest and egg within the Coquihalla/Hope area. Two further “near misses” involving nesting American robins in Burnaby have been cited in the identical month.
The official who issued the violations and fantastic stated Trans Mountain did not adequately oversee its contractors and didn’t make sure the competency, coaching or supervision of personnel, “which resulted in potential and real harm to the environment.”
Last 12 months, Trans Mountain Corp. introduced the worth of the enlargement challenge had ballooned from $12.6 billion to $21.4 billion. Construction is anticipated to be completed someday this 12 months.
