The B.C. government passed legislation that changes the boundaries of Finn Creek Provincial Park last Thursday, to make way for the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline even though the province has yet to give its approval to the controversial project.

In its pipeline expansion allocation Kinder Morgan requested the province redraw the boundaries of four provincial parks to facilitate pipeline construction.

Last week B.C. changed the boundaries of Finn Creek Provincial Park to make way for the pipeline that is currently undergoing review with the federal National Energy Board. The NEB’s final recommendation is expected by May 20.

“This pipeline project clearly threatens the values that this park was established to protect,” Peter Wood with the B.C. chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), said. “It should never have been allowed to proceed this far, let alone be approved. Allowing industrial activity in an ecologically sensitive area like Finn Creek Park runs counter to the government’s mandate of protecting these places.”

Finn Creek Provincial Park is located along the North Thompson River, an area BC Parks says is rich in ecological diversity, with local grizzly and moose populations, and provides spawning habitat for bull trout, Coho and Chinook salmon.

The province appears to be making way for the pipeline even though the B.C. Ministry of Environment found the project did not meet conditions set out by the province in 2012. The B.C. Ministry of Environment did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Update: The B.C. Ministry of Environment released a statement to DeSmog Canada saying, "this proposed boundary adjustment would not be brought into force unless and until the project is approved by the National Energy Board, the Province is satisfied its five conditions have been met, and the Province has issued an environmental assessment certificate. Until such time, this boundary adjustment does not permit any form of construction of the proposed pipeline."

Wood asked, "why would they proactively legislate changes to open the park to the pipeline before the NEB has even arrived at a decision?" Even though the proposed changes would only affect a small portion of the park, roughly 2.43 hectares according to the Ministry of Environment, "in principle, it doesn't make sense," Wood said.

"My understanding is that the park protects wild salmon, grizzly bears and moose. I haven't seen the documents related to how these values will be affected," Wood said. "But I think the bigger concern is that this major change was buried in a 'miscellaneous statutes' omnibus bill."

"If it's no big deal, why not be transparent and tell the public that they are changing the park to accommodate the Kinder Morgan pipeline?" 

In August 2015 over 30 groups and individuals, including CPAWS, publicly withdrew from the Kinder Morgan review process, citing a lack of transparency, balance and accountability in the proceedings.

Wood said the government’s decision to redraw provincial parkland boundaries in favour of the pipeline is concerning.

“Why is the B.C. Government proceeding as if this pipeline project is a done deal?” he said.

“It’s inappropriate for the province to be allocating resources to opening up our parks for a pipeline, let alone one that may never be approved.”

“This is particularly shocking given the high levels of opposition from First Nations and the general public.”

Kinder Morgan’s submission to the province requests parkland boundaries also be altered in the North Thomson River Provincial Park, Lac Du Bois Grasslands Protected Area and Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park.

This article was updated May 17, 2016 to include comment from the Ministry of Environment and additional comment from Peter Wood.

Image: Yoho National Park in B.C. via Pigeonsgross/Instagram

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

Kinder Morgan made the news last week after disagreement between the company and the city of Burnaby came to a head over the removal of trees in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area in advance of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

After Kinder Morgan began clearing an area to facilitate survey work, which included exploratory drilling, Burnaby issued a stop work order, stating the company was violating municipal bylaws and causing irreparable damage to park areas.

On Monday, Burnaby filed a civil claim against Kinder Morgan in the Supreme Court of B.C., asking for interim and permanent injunctions to halt the company’s work in the Burnaby Mountain area. The city will appear in court Thursday to request the company cease work until the matter be heard before the Supreme Court.

But Kinder Morgan's interest in park area goes beyond Burnaby Mountain as detailed plans submitted to the province of B.C. reveal. The company's Provincial Protected Area Boundary Adjustment application, shows the Trans Mountain pipeline will cut through three provincial parks and one protected grassland in B.C. 

The application requests parkland be removed from four park boundaries to facilitate pipeline construction.

These areas include:

Finn Creek Provincial Park. For additional information, see Kinder Morgan's Finn Creek application.

North Thomson River Provincial Park. For additional information, see Kinder Morgan's North Thomson River application.

Lac Du Bois Grasslands Protected Area. For additional information, see Kinder Morgan's Lac Du Bois application.

Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park. For more information, see Kinder Morgan's Bridal Veil Falls application. 

According to B.C. Parks, Kinder Morgan will submit an additional resource use permit requesting to construct the pipeline expansion through the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area.

According to Kinder Morgan, "Following completion of Project construction, the lands removed from the parks through the boundary adjustment may be returned to park or protected area status with operations authorized under a park use permit."

Public comment on the proposed changes can be made to Kinder Morgan or B.C. Parks until October 12. Although, as Stephen Hui notes on the straight.com, B.C. Parks requires commenters to agree to a privacy statement that entails sharing comments with Kinder Morgan before a feedback form is made available. 

Image Credit: Bridal Veil Falls in B.C. by Michelle Lee via Flickr.

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.