Building Trans Mountain Pipeline will ‘seal fate of southern resident orcas’

National Energy Board has 22 weeks to reconsider vessel traffic impacts to orcas; original NEB report shows ‘significant adverse effects’ to the species

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (VANCOUVER, BC) — The Canadian federal government today gave the National Energy Board 22 weeks to reconsider vessel traffic impacts to the southern resident orcas as part of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project. A reconsideration of oil tanker traffic impacts was one of the rulings handed down by the Federal Court of Appeal when it quashed approval of the project earlier this month.

The National Energy Board’s original report states that “the operation of Project-related marine vessels is likely to result in significant adverse effects to the Southern resident killer whale.” (page xii)

In response to the announcement, Stand.earth issued the following statements:

“The Trudeau government is faced with a stark choice: Either they can enforce the Species At Risk Act or they can build the Trans Mountain Pipeline and seal the fate of the southern resident orcas.”
-Tzeporah Berman, Deputy Director, Stand.earth

“The southern resident orcas are a species in crisis. We all witnessed the heartbreaking scene of Tahlequah, a mother orca who carried the body of her dead calf for 17 days and thousands of miles, and Scarlett, another young orca’s recent slow demise into sickness and presumed death. Building the Trans Mountain Pipeline would likely push the remaining 74 southern residents over the brink.” 
-Sven Biggs, Climate Campaigner, Stand.earth

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Media contacts: 
Sven Biggs, Climate Campaigner, sven@stand.earth, 778-882-8354
Tzeporah Berman, Deputy Director, tzeporah@stand.earth,  604-313-4713