Group protests pipeline project on Exxon Valdez anniversary

Environmental protesters demonstrated in downtown Victoria on Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and to draw attention to another project they say may cause history to repeat itself.

Dressed as animals, the protesters used the anniversary to object to the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline.

Enbridge Inc., a Calgary-based energy transportation company, is looking to build a terminal in Kitimat, on B.C.'s Pacific inland coast, that would make it easier to move oil from Alberta's tarsands to China.

The company is also hoping to construct two pipelines that would connect the B.C. town with tarsands in the neighbouring province.

Roger Harris, vice-president of the pipeline project, maintained that Enbridge will implement standards to prevent the mistakes associated with the Exxon Valdez spill. Among some of the standards are the "introduction of escort tugs … tug tethering [and the] introduction of radar-controlled shipping lanes."

Question of when, not if: environmentalist

Those who want to see the project halted, however, are not convinced the safety measures will entirely prevent spills.

"Statistics show that it's not a question of if an oil spill happens, but when," said Maurita Prato of the Dogwood Initiative, the group that organized Monday's protest.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell has expressed his support for the type of tanker project proposed by Enbridge, citing a potential for considerable economic development.

"We are working right now, as I've said now for some time, to develop the science that is necessary to assure that we can carry out these activities in a sustainable manner, in an environmental and scientific manner," Campbell said.

The Exxon Valdez spill occurred in 1989 when a huge oil tanker hit a reef in Prince William Sound, on the south coast of Alaska. The spill caused 50 million litres of crude oil to be dumped into the water, devastating fish and wildlife.

Enbridge is expected to file an application for its proposed project sometime this year.