Council Motion on Oil Tanker Traffic post Experts' Panel

Passed unanimously at Council today in response to the information we heard from experts on the issue of oil tanker traffic in the region at a Special Council Meeting on July 5, 2010 . If you follow the link, you can watch an archived video of the special meeting (runs approx. 2 hours).

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THAT Council request the Metro Vancouver Port Cities Committee to further investigate the issue of oil tanker traffic in the region including the following specific areas of inquiry:

- evaluating the risks of current and planned increases in oil tanker traffic and increased size of loads carried by tankers in the region, and recent changes that lower the compliment of staffing on tugs escorting tankers

- identifying opportunities for municipal and public input into formal processes that may increase the amount of oil traveling by water in the region either through an increase in pipeline capacity, allowable load of ships, or size of ships

- providing a "map" of all the the agencies, organizations and government legislation involved in overseeing oil tanker traffic, safety of tankers and emergency response including the responsibilities and rights of each of these parties in relation to this role

- clarifying the liability for environmental and economic impacts of a tanker spill and potential costs to taxpayers in affected municipalities.

FURTHER THAT Council advises the Port Cities Committee that public interest and concern in this issue is high and we would welcome them providing opportunities for public consultation

FURTHER THAT staff provide a memo on what Vancouver should specifically undertake to be prepared to respond to a spill, such as emergency responder training and volunteer recruitment

FURTHER THAT the Mayor advise the federal Ministers of Environment and Transportation, the provincial Ministers of Energy and Environment, Port Metro Vancouver, and Coast Guard of Vancouver's interests and concern in this issue

Comments

[Oost]

is this not a port of vancouver (federal) issue? i do applaud your efforts, but i also suspect that oil spills are politically "sexy" issue at the moment.

please focus on the non-cross jurisdictional issues, like finding more funding for our libraries, community centres, parks, schools and pools. THAT will get you re-elected, not this.

[Al]

A citizen's response to oil spills http://www.matteroftrust.org/ creating oil protection booms using locally available materials.

"We shampoo because hair collects oil. Why should millions of pounds of absorbent, natural, renewable hair, fur, fleece clippings go to waste?"

This can be developed as an advance emergency preparedness activity before an actual spill occurs.

[GeraldFGraham]

Congratulations on your initiative, Ms. Reimer! Allow me to draw your attention to a larger issue- the oil spill threat posed by significant increases in the numbers of commercial vessels entering and exiting the port of Vancouver. The majority of these vessels ( including tankers, I might add ) are fueled by Bunker C, which is very nasty stuff indeed. An incident involving a spill of this nature could have significant impacts, not just in Burrard Inlet, but throughout the Salish Sea, which, as you know, is critical habitat for the endangered southern resident killer whales. So, yes, by all means do a risk analysis of tanker traffic, but don't forget the larger issue of marine oil spill threats from other sources of petroleum products as well.

[Nike Shox Navina]

If the pain is met the truth, stick to the truth, you should consciously, then also cheerfully, pain will only then to happiness.Do you think so?