Activists claim they’ve “shut down” Kinder Morgan’s geotechnical operations in Burrard Inlet

Xenoa Skinteh indicated his displeasure with the barge in Burrard Inlet before direct action took place today. Photo submitted to Georgia Straight.

by Charlie Smith, The Georgia Straight, January 17th, 2016

Activists have issued a news release claiming that they’ve seized a drilling barge near Westridge Marine Terminal. Around noon, it was boarded by two activists.

“Under the consent of Tsleil-Waututh Hereditary Chief Tulsii’m Kia’palanexw and Wei-Wai-Kay Hereditary Chief Geh-Soh-Giliach, Gigamaie, work crews contracted by Kinder Morgan undertaking offshore geotechnical operations on the Burrard Inlet by Westridge Marine Terminal, were shut down at approximately noon this morning by Hereditary Chief Geh-Soh-Giliach, Gigamaie and Xenoa Skinteh,” the news release states. “Both people were involved in the Autumn Resistance of 2014 on so called Burnaby Mountain.”

Kinder Morgan’s subsidiary, Trans Mountain, plans to expand Westbridge Marine Terminal to accommodate a new dock with three berths and additional pipelines. There’s also a planned extension of the marine foreshore, among other additions.

Trans Mountain has claimed that its proposed pipeline project will generate $23.7 billion in additional taxes and royalties to federal and provincial governments over a 20-year period. It would also result in more than 300 oil tankers per year travelling through Burrard Inlet to take the product to various markets.

Today’s news release stated that late last year, Kinder Morgan gave notice that drilling would occur between December 2015 and February 2016.

“Kinder Morgan has not undertaken the necessary consultation with Hereditary Chiefs, and they are infringing upon the sovereignty of indigenous people of the unceded lands and waters here in Coast Salish Territory,” the news release states.

Later, the statement declares that this action “should also serve as a reminder to the public that we must do more than write, rally, and march”.

“All are necessary but direct action is what will protect the water, air, land and people from toxic tar sands developments, the capitalistic drive of the Kinder Morgan machine, and the genocidal Canadian government,” it claims. “It is also to show true solidarity with Indigenous nations, as they are most regularly the first displaced, the first poisoned, and the first killed by extractive processes.”

The statement adds that direct action was “successfully used” on Burnaby Mountain in 2014 prior to the involvement of environmental nongovernmental organizations.

http://www.straight.com/news/618161/activists-claim-theyve-shut-down-kinder-morgans-geotechnical-operations-burrard-inlet

Protesters board Kinder Morgan drilling barge

by Shane Woodford, News Talk 980 CKNW,January 17, 2016

Protesters claimed to have seized a drilling barge in Burrard inlet today, but Kinder Morgan begs to differ.

Spokesperson for the energy giant Ali Hounsell says they have permits from Port Metro Vancouver to conduct offshore geotechnical operations for the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

“There is no work planned for today. There are crew onboard the barge but there was no work underway. I understand that two people did approach the barge on kayak and are presently still there on the edge of the barge. I wouldn’t characterize it as they have ‘seized’ the barge because there are crew onboard but they are present there.”

Hounsell says they will keep an eye on the situation.

The group purported to have the blessing of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation but in a media release issued later in the day by the aboriginal group it says not so much.

“Today a group of local activists shut down work contracted by Kinder Morgan, relating to offshore geotechnical operations on the Burrard Inlet by Westridge Marine Terminal. It confirms that there is widespread and significant opposition to the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline and Tanker expansion project, including local governments and individual residents.
The Tsleil-Waututh government has no special knowledge related to actions reported in the media concerning a take-over of a contractor’s drilling barge near Kinder Morgan’s Westridge Marine Terminal. The actions represent individual considerations, not those of the Tsleil-Waututh government.
While we respect all those opposed to the expansion and their perspectives on the best way to voice that opposition, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation government will continue to oppose the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project by all legal means necessary. The Nation will be back at the Federal Court of Appeal on January 22, 2016 to emphasize how flawed the NEB process is and to start over and consult with the Nation first.”

http://www.cknw.com/2016/01/17/protestors-claim-to-have-seized-kinder-morgan-drilling-barge/