In the US House of Representatives hearings regarding Enbridge’s 3.8 million litre oil spill in Marshal, Michigan last summer, it was found that the alarms and shut off valves in Enbridge’s Edmonton control centre were working properly on the day of the spill.
Despite this fact, due to human and/or organizational errors, Enbridge employees didn’t completely shut down the pipeline until over 17 hours after the first alarm went off.
Residents who were reimbursed for medical exams after the spill unknowingly signed release forms that authorized Enbridge lawyers to access “any and all inpatient admissions, all ER visits, outpatient clinic notes, diagnostic testing, radiology films, consults, doctors orders, progress notes, nurses notes, laboratory testing, social service records, reports, correspondence, consultations, memoranda, treatment plans, admission records, discharge summaries, medical summaries, diagnoses, and/or any writing of any kind [including] drug and alcohol records, communicable disease, HIV and AIDS records, and mental health records (not including psychotherapy notes)” of those residents.
Immediately after the spill, Enbridge officials made many promises.
When some residents were not satisfied with Enbridge’s actual offers for damages due to the spill, Enbridge’s lawyers stated that, “The statements at issue, that were made in (Enbridge’s) press releases and brochure, were mere expressions of intention, not offers.”
So it appears there are two sides to Enbridge.
The one coming to Kitimat has rosy predictions, trustworthy technology, and a deep concern for our well being.
The other Enbridge can spill millions of litres of oil without knowing it, and will stop at nothing to protect shareholders rather than the health and property of the people living along their pipelines.
They will also make whatever glowing promises they need to in order to get their pipeline in the ground, knowing full well their lawyers will claim those promises were, “mere expressions of intention, not offers” when the pipe finally bursts or the supertanker hits a shoal.
The effects of a pipeline or marine spill would be felt by many generations of northern BC residents.
Would you entrust our rivers and north coast waters to such a two faced company?
And if you wouldn’t, why haven’t you made your opposition known?
Silence = acceptance.
Murray Minchin