Greenpeace USA responds to Suspension of Kinder Morgan pipeline activity that threatens future of expansion project

Kinder Morgan Canada announced that it intends to suspend all non-essential activities and related spending on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in response to continued opposition to the project.

Nearly 200 people have now been arrested taking action against the pipeline, blockading construction in British Columbia, while as many as 10,000 people, including supporters from the US, marched in support of Indigenous Peoples’ resistance against the pipeline on March 10th.

If completed, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project would bring a 700% increase in tanker traffic from the Kinder Morgan facility in British Columbia through the Salish Sea. This traffic increase is predicted to impact the already-Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. This tanker superhighway could ship tar sands to refineries in Washington, Oregon and California, as well as across the Pacific. Hundreds of these tar sands tankers could end up in California each year.

In response, Greenpeace USA Field Organizing Manager Ben Smith said:

“This announcement is welcome news for everyone along the US West Coast that enjoys clean water. We encourage Kinder Morgan to shelve its pipeline plan and tanker superhighway for good before its crumbling economics and the growing resistance against the pipeline does it for them.

“Stopping construction is the right move. The reality is that tar sands spills are nearly impossible to clean up and jeopardizes the safety of our drinking water. We also can’t risk a 700% increase in tar sands tankers along the West Coast that threatens marine life and local fishing populations.

“More and more Americans are speaking out against the Kinder Morgan pipeline, including Washington Governor Jay Inslee. We encourage other West Coast governors to join Governor Inslee in heeding the call of Indigenous protectors and their allies: respect Indigenous sovereignty, and protect the Endangered orca, our climate, and our coasts from Kinder Morgan.”