Submissions and public documents on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project

When we started this work in 2004, there was no Northern Gateway proposal. By the end of our work, Enbridge‘s Northern Gateway pipeline and oil tanker route was proposed. These documents were all submitted to the hearings, but they also serve a broader coastal research and species conservation purpose.

To understand Raincoast’s objections to the Northern Gateway Project, we have compiled analysis and reviews that we produced either as evidence for the federal hearings (NEB/CEAA), published science papers or in popular reports. Links to these documents are at the bottom of the page.

Raincoast reports identify concerns for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project, including the deficiencies in Enbridge’s Environmental Assessment (ESA)

Marine mammals

• Short history of BC whales and sea lion populations (PDF)
• Status of whales and dolphins in QCB
• Overview of threats to whales from NGP oil tankers (PDF)

Salmon 

• Threats to salmon from NGP (PDF)
• Cumulative threats to salmon (PDF)
• RCF risk assessment undertaken on salmon (PDF)
• Embroiled: Salmon, Tankers & Enbridge NGP (PDF)

Sea otters

• NGP project threats to sea otters (PDF)
• Cumulative threats to sea otters (PDF)

Marine Birds

• Threats to marine birds from NGP (PDF)
• RCF risk assessment undertaken on marine birds (PDF)

The Queen Charlotte Basin

• Coastal/Terrestrial Animals (PDF)
• Marine Life (PDF)

Brief overview of Enbridge’s flawed ESA

• Overview of Enbridge’s ESA (PDF)

Brief overviews of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

• Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 
• Lessons from Alaska (PDF)

Oil tanker threats to the Queen Charlotte Basin

• Overview of threats from NGP oil tankers (PDF)
• Enbridge’s examination of tanker risk (PDF)

Conclusions

• Conclusions about Northern Gateway (PDF)

References

• References

A short history of  the Northern Gateway project

In 2003 Raincoast began its work to keep the coast of British Columbia oil-free. Raincoast’s efforts in the Northern Gateway review process included original scientific research, scientific review and a legal role (represented by our lawyers at Ecojustice) as intervenors in the federal hearings.  Upon project approval by the JRP and federal government, we joined with First Nations to launch legal challenges. See a longer chronology.

What’s at Stake: The cost of oil on British Columbia’s priceless coast

In 2004, Raincoast began five years of at-sea surveys along the coast of British Columbia to understand what truly is at risk from the Northern Gateway Project. The resultant report, What’s At Stake: The Cost of Oil on British Columbia’s Priceless Coast, along with published scientific papers, detail this information and place it in a broader ecological context.

Embroiled: Salmon, tankers and the Enbridge Northern Gateway Proposal

One of the most iconic species on the BC coast, salmon are at particular risk from oil expansion projects. The Raincoast report, Embroiled: Salmon, Tankers and the Enbridge Northern Gateway Proposal, explores the connections between the oil industry’s proposed activities and how those activities can adversely affect salmon.

Groundswell: A small film about making a big stand

When Raincoast’s research vessel, Achiever, set sail with Patagonia and a world-famous team of surfers, we embarked on an adventure that allowed these high profile surfers to experience this amazing coast, its incredible wildlife and understand why tar sands oil tankers should never traverse these waters. Watch the trailer, download or purchase.

Reflections: Art for an Oil-Free Coast

A shared venture from Raincoast and Strongheart Productions, Reflections is a 22-minute documentary chronicling our Art for an Oil-Free Coast project. It shares the story of the artists’ expedition into a stunning and remote landscape, weaving together the artists’ work and their response to a people and a region at risk.

You can help

Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.

We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.