VANCOUVER — The Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver has released what it is calling an independent analysis of Kinder Morgan's proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
The analysis says the analysis concludes that the likelihood of oil spills would increase if the expansion is allowed, with dire consequences for sensitive sites, habitats and species.
It also says the pipeline's effect on Tsleil-Waututh cultural activities in the region would be as big, if not bigger, than its impact on natural resources.
Kinder Morgan hopes to triple its bitumen-carrying capacity to 890,000 barrels a day by laying almost 1,000 kilometres of new pipe near the existing pipeline that runs from Alberta to Burnaby, B.C.
The nation's traditional territory includes Burrard Inlet, where tanker traffic is expected to increase seven-fold if the expansion is approved by the National Energy Board.
The assessment was written by the Tsleil-Waututh's resource department and is based on reports by six independent experts.
