Energy East Pipeline could hurt whales, jobs, says Conservation Council

A new report by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick is warning about the impact theEnergy East Pipeline projectcould have on whales in the Bay of Fundy,and on the jobs of thousands of New Brunswickers, if it goes ahead.

But a TransCanada Corp. spokesmandisputes the findings, arguing thatcertainfacts, such as locations and numbers, are "overlooked or exaggerated."

The proposed 4,600-kilometre pipeline would carry 1.1 million barrels a day ofoilsandscrude from western Canada toSaint John, where it wouldeither be exported through a terminal co-owned by TransCanada and Irving Oil Ltd., or refined at Irving's refinery.

Matthew Abbott, the Conservation Council's Fundy Baykeeper,looked at how the proposed west-east pipeline would affectthe environment of the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine, and75 coastal communities.

His report, released on Wednesday,foundincreased tanker traffic would cause more noise, stress and risk of collisions for endangered North Atlantic right whales, and other large mammals.

In addition, anyoil spills would imperil the livelihoods of thousands of New Brunswickers working in fisheries andtourism, according to the 22-pagereport by the non-profit environmentalgroup.

It says the bay's high tides and fog already make spill cleanups challenging.

Butwhen diluted bitumenis mixed with sediment in salt water it forms "tarballs"and sinks, making iit evenmore difficult to clean up and a threat to traditional fisheries, such as bottom-feedinglobster and scallops.

"Increased industrialization of the Bay, especially in the event of an oil spill, will damage [its] reputation and will make it harder to attract tourists in a very competitive market."

The report makes nine recommendations, including:

• The provincial government assess the impactincreased tanker traffic, noise and a spillwould have on fisheries and tourism.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Canadian Coast Guard evaluate their tanker accident and oil spill response capacities.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada assess currentmarine traffic noise in the Bay of Fundy and the impact of any increaseon whales and other marine life.

Less than 1 ship per day

TransCanada spokesman Tim Duboyce,however, contends the impact on right whales "is not going to be significant."

He says the proposedCanaport-Energy East export terminal is not in their "critical habitatAnd that makes a huge difference."

The shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy were already moved out of the critical habitat of right whales about 10 years ago, and since then, there hasn't been a single reported ship strike and whale populations have increased, said Duboyce.

We have looked at what we expect the impact of that to be on these marine mammals, and on other species in the Bay ofFundyand we have arrived at the conclusion that the impact is not going to be significant.- TimDuboyce, TransCanada Corp.

He also expects the project's overall impact on marine traffic at Port Saint Johnwill be minimal.

"We're talking about 115 arrivals and departures per year Itadds up to less than one ship per day," said Duboyce.

"We have looked at what we expect the impact of that to be on these marine mammals, and on other species in the Bay of Fundy and we have arrived at the conclusion that the impact is not going to be significant.

"It is very very important to us to proceed with this project in a way that is respectful of the environment and of the different species that inhabit the Bay ofFundy."

In April, TransCanada Corp. announced it was abandoning plansfor a terminal inCacouna, Que., due, in part, to concerns about beluga whales.

Beluga whales are found in the St. Lawrence River in theCacounaarea and arecommended change in status of the whales to an endangered species factored into the company's decision to ditch its plans for a terminal there.

The change pushed the $12-billion project back by two years to 2020.