A year after Prince George pipeline blast, B.C. First Nation wants answers - Action News
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British Columbia

A year after Prince George pipeline blast, B.C. First Nation wants answers

It was Oct. 9, 2018, when an orange fireball was seen shooting into the air near Prince George, rocking homes on nearby Lheidli T'enneh reserve land. A year later, that First Nation is pursuing legal action while waiting for a full report on what went wrong.

Legal action, safety report still underway in aftermath of 2018 explosion

Speaking to CBC after the 2018 natural gas pipeline explosion, Lheidli T'enneh First Nation member Violet Bazoki said she's long worried about the risk of an explosion or fire cutting off the only road to her community of Shelley, B.C. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)

A year after a natural gas pipeline exploded near Prince George, B.C., the people who felt their homes shake are still waiting for answers about what exactly went wrongand what can be done to prevent future incidents.

Approximately 100 Lheidli T'enneh residents in the community of Shelley, 15 kilometres northeast of Prince George,fled their homesas a precaution after the explosion.

They were allowed to return the same evening, and no injuries were reported.

Investigators determined the explosion was caused by a rupture in a 36-inch pipeline owned by Enbridge.

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) then launched a more detailed analysis and is now writing a final report on the matter.

Cracks from corrosion TSB

In June of 2019, the TSB sent a letter to Enbridgestating the likely cause of the pipelinerupture were cracksfromcorrosioncaused by moisture.

The TSB recommended the company review its infrastructure management practices, including how often it inspects pipelines for faults.

A large fireball seen rising into the sky above Shelley, a small community about 15 kilometres northeast of Prince George after a natural gas pipeline ruptured and exploded on Oct. 9, 2018. (@Dhruv7491/Twitter)

The TSB also singled out Enbridge's use of polyethylene tape on its pipelines, writing "this type of coating has a tendency to separate (disbond) from the pipeline, allowing moisture present in the soil to contact the pipe surface."

The cause of the explosion itself has not been released.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board said a full report into the explosion along with recommendations, if there are any could be expectedasearly as January2020, but no firm timeline has been released.

Enbridge increases inspections

In an emailed response to CBC, Enbridge said it has increased the frequency of its pipeline inspectionsand has already conducted system-wide checks for othercorrosion.

"By November 2019, we will have nearly doubled the number of dig inspections undertaken in a typical maintenance year," the email reads. "This work goes well beyond industry standards."

Lawyer Malcolm Macpherson is representing Lheidli T'enneh in the lawsuit against Enbridge. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)

Lheidli T'enneh pursuing legal action

Meanwhile, the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation is pursuing legal action against Enbridge, seeking financial compensation for damages, nuisance and trespass.

In its notice of civil claim, the Nation says the explosion caused "serious and constant distress and anguish" for Lheidli T'ennehmembers and that Enbridge has failed to adequately communicate the cause of the explosion and its aftermath.

The notice also argues Lheidli T'enneh never gave the company permission to build on its uncededland, and asksfor a permanent injunction preventing Enbridge from operating on their territory and reserves, and to immediately dismantle and remove existing pipeline infrastructure.

Phyllis Seymour, a member of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, described witnessing the pipeline explosion as 'traumatic.' (Rafferty Baker/CBC)

In legal documents filed in response to the Lheidli T'enneh lawsuit, Enbridgesays the civil claim "lacks merit" and "is an abuse of process and collateral attack." The company saysit "acted in good faith to accommodate and support Lheidli T'enneh" following the explosion andthe First Nation should not be entitled to damages or compensation.

In an emailed response to CBC, Enbridge said that thenatural gas pipeline which is a major supplier to customers in the Lower Mainland is a critical piece of provincial infrastructure, used to heat homes, hospitals, schools, businesses and industry, and that it has operated safely for more than 60 years.

The company says that it has been open with the Lheidli T'enneh about the process, and that it is "always interested in strengthening our relationship with Indigenous communities."

"At Enbridge, no incident is ever acceptable," the email says. "Our goal is to continually improve the safety of our pipeline systems."

Listen to an interview with Malcolm Macpherson, the lawyer representing Lheidli T'enneh:

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Clarifications

  • An earlier version of this story said a report from the Transportation Safety Board would be released in early January 2020. The story has been updated to clarify that while the report could be published as early as January 2020, no firm deadline has been set.
    Oct 10, 2019 8:36 AM PT