BC Government, DFO investigates Coquihala River pipeline construction with salmon spawning

BC Environment Minister George Heyman said the state is investigating complaints about ongoing pipeline construction activity on the Coquihala River in Hope.

Following concerns raised by environmental groups this week, the minister tweeted that the government would take action "within our jurisdiction" to investigate. Green MLA's Adam Olsen called on the NDP government to fight to protect critical ecosystems.

Kate Tyrian, a volunteer for an organization called Protect the Planet, told The Post Media on Tuesday that drilling is underway in the Coquihala River for the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. He said he was stunned to see that the machine was just a day later. She witnessed a school of salmon—the earliest she had ever seen.

Mentioned potential compliance measures. Fish habitats are handled by the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service and the Canadian Energy Regulator, he said, BC members: The Conservation Officer Service went to the scene and the DFO and he "relayed the information" to relevant oversight agencies, including BC. Oil and Gas Commission.

Details of what the conservation officer saw were not given.

According to a statement emailed by the ministry on Wednesday, the government also "ensures that the work has the proper authority and complies with permits under its limited jurisdiction." Inspectors were dispatched to do so. "Ask" the federal government to protect wild salmon.

"We have expressed these concerns to the federal government," the statement said.

The DFO said in an email Thursday that it sent a regulatory inspection team to the site on Monday, and again on Tuesday he sent a TMX Indigenous Advisory and Oversight Committee.

“DFO staff observed that sediments were properly managed and monitored. DFO spokesperson Victoria Wiseman said.

“There were no obstacles to the passage of fish in the underwater equipment.

Olsen He said he was "disturbed" to hear that salmon populations in the Kokihala River were being threatened during their migration.

“Salmon represent a vital part of the ecosystem and it is unacceptable that they are endangered beyond the priority of fossil fuel companies.British Columbia's salmon stocks are already declining. As such, we cannot risk further damage to the population," he said in a statement.

Done. Permission to drill the river was issued for the least risky scenario. Endangering the migration of vulnerable keystone species is not the lowest risk scenario. ''

Olsen said he was B. C. The NDP government joins the Greens in "our call to protect this critical ecosystem".

The work permitted is to use an excavator to install pipes for the Trans Mountain expansion while at the same time replacing part of the existing pipeline within the river. It's trench digging. The Coquihala River, according to the Trans Mountain construction bulletin.

The company said in a statement that "great care is taken to maintain the environmental character of Habitat” included.

In a statement emailed to Postmedia on Tuesday, Trans Mountain said all work was being done in accordance with permits, Canadian energy regulators said. pointed out the riparian habitat management plan approved by.

Tairyan said he was surprised that the DFO had given Trans Mountain permission to "enter a river with spawning salmon."

This group is opposed to the TMX pipeline andalso expressed concern about the finding of dead salmon washed up on shore.

It is not yet known whether the dead fish were Kokihara Salmon or Fraser River He Salmon. Currently, there is a flush running from the Fraser River to the Coquihala River.

These salmon are facing more problems this year with higher water levels and rising tides.

ticrawford@postmedia. com

— with files from Derrick Penner

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