[All] Fw: Nuclear and Pipeline Risks are linked.

Wed Jan 25 15:26:02 EST 2017

Hi folks
Just sent this email to Trudeau yesterday re: Pipelines, Nuclear, Treaties and the big block we face getting to renewable energy.  
Helps to give the big picture view of what's happening here. 
Lulu 

----- Forwarded Message -----
 From: "water.lulu at yahoo.ca" <water.lulu at yahoo.ca>
 To: "justin.trudeau at parl.gc.ca" <justin.trudeau at parl.gc.ca>; James Carr P.C.M.P. <nrcan.minister-ministre.rncan at canada.ca>; Tom Mulcair <thomas.mulcair at parl.gc.ca>; Elizabeth May <elizabeth.may at parl.gc.ca>; "pbellegarde at afn.ca" <pbellegarde at afn.ca>; Premier of Ontario | Première ministre de l’Ontario <premier at ontario.ca>; Andrea Horwath <ahorwath-qp at ndp.on.ca>; Bardish Chagger <bardish.chagger at parl.gc.ca>; MPP Catherine Fife (Kitchener-Waterloo) <catherinefife at on.ndp.ca>; Minister MOECC (MOECC) <minister.moecc at ontario.ca>; Carolyn Bennett <carolyn.bennett at parl.gc.ca>; "indigenous_un at un.org" <indigenous_un at un.org>; "bill.morneau at canada.ca" <bill.morneau at canada.ca>; UN Anti Corruption <uncac.cop at unodc.org>; MOE Minister Catherine McKenna <catherine.mckenna at parl.gc.ca>; "harjit.sajjan at parl.gc.ca" <harjit.sajjan at parl.gc.ca>; "jody.wilson-raybould at parl.gc.ca" <jody.wilson-raybould at parl.gc.ca> 
 Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 8:12 PM
 Subject: Nuclear and Pipeline Risks are linked.

Dear Hon. Prime Minister, Grand Chief Bellegarde et al. 

Right now the NEB is in the process of revising it's policies so I created this report as a concerned citizen with the intent to specifically address those concerns but in conducting my research I discovered  very serious risks posing national security threats from what I've found involving the nuclear sector too. 
Right now our planning systems for infrastructure related to both Nuclear and fossil fuel sectors  in Canada is best explained as an SCC which in terms of an oil pipeline means  stress corrosion cracking. To see what is breaking apart solid planing principals  you have to look at the totality of this crack cluster because it has different veins branching out to different weak points  but at the root involves the same players. 
Being Mi'kmaq the vision I see to help illustrate this is that of an open human hand.with palm facing forward. It is the left hand. Sinistra This is the hand representing both government and industry.  The hands were once two separate hands and would unite in prayer to advance projects but today with business and governance so enmeshed all I see is the left hand today. The fingers are the topics I will discuss. 
Design Constraints -the thumbCaptured Regulators -the index finger
Unanswered Questions - the middle fingerDenial of Treaty Rights - the ring finger Who is the Crown? -  pinky finger
Design Constraints  
Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) was established in Nov. 1959. https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/bts/whwr/rhstry-eng.html
In the US, 45% of the crude oil pipelines are over 50 years old and were built with techniques that are no longer compliant with today's building codes and safety standards.http://insideenergy.org/2014/08/01/half-century-old-pipelines-carry-oil-and-gas-load/

Many questions must be asked:
To what extent to we have specifications of line segments and fabrication parts recorded and centralized on computer?Does segment data include the age and condition of each segment and the use of rust proofing technology ie:  PE tape or epoxy? When recalls or warnings are issued due to substandard materials, poor seals etc, do we have the data on computer to clearly identify where these parts were used and when they were installed?Can we clearly identify on computer what lines were installed using oxyacetylene vs. arc welds to better avoid ruptures with seismic risks? 
Is the location of shut off valves on computer so we can correlate it with updated GPS information to see if valve placement is still rational?  I ask this question because as a delegate I presented the valve concern during the Enbridge Line 9 B hearing in Toronto after I personally observed how pipeline designs failed to have regard for both delta water levels of spring thaw and the vast amount of upstream growth that we experienced in Waterloo Region since the pipeline's initial installation in the early 1970s. The additional runoff from storm water eroded the river banks to the point the shut off valve located beside the river, was under water each spring. We only had one valve by this major water way because the pipe's installation predated the Navigable Water's Act which demands two valves.  Due to the reversal of oil flow for this line the valve was on the wrong side of the river to stop incoming flow. The nearest valve on the other side was 12km away which was how they spaced the entire line n 1970's, Valves were generally spaced 12km apart. . Even with all valves closed, the amount of oil that can discharge from a line like that is huge.
At the Line 9 phase 1 hearing I secured written data from Enbridge which I used as evidence at the NEB hearing where Enbridge admits they only monitor the pipelines in the river once every 5 years. If that is the case why were these issues never remedied?  Why is the pipe still not up to code? 
I secured a written correspondence of the NEB staff asking Enbridge to disclose the location of shut off valves on Line 9 and this was after they granted the permit to reverse the flow.  The letter also asked Enbridge to define what a major water way was. It shocked me that these terms were not clarified before approvals were granted. 
The depth they buried Line 9 is only 1 meter for the majority of the pipe's length including the river crossings. In Waterloo Region both the Grand and Nith river connect and we see annual flooding and scouring on a regular basis. Is there computerized monitoring for the depth of coverage of pipes to  monitor rates of erosion? 
With climate change increasing flood events and continuing growth upstream, what depth should these lines be placed to assure safe function for the long term? How many pipelines crossings along major water ways in Canada need to be revisited for valve placement and pipe depth to assure compliance to Navigable Water's Act and current safety standards? 
These kind of questions should have been answered before giving projects the thumbs up. The fact we permissions granted with the absence of this kind of information is a National Security Risk. 
Captured Regulators

>From 1950's to 1980's oil companies including Union Carbide, Exxon, Chevron, Conoco and US Steel actively mined uranium. Many of them make money fracking for uranium today. http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2013/01/23/fracking-for-uranium/#c88e89f1064c

Oil pipeline companies like TransCanada owns nuclear infrastructure including 49% of Bruce nuclear reactor A and 32% of Bruce B. 
http://www.transcanada.com/announcements-article.html?id=1591235&t=
Norvoco and TransCanada both benefit from the privatization of Hydro assets in Quebec and Ontario and both are involved with not only with oil and nuclear but natural gas sectors as well. 
Enbridge wants to merge with Spectra and Food and Water Watch is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to review the Enbridge Spectra merger stating that it is anti-competitive and will likely result in higher costs for consumers. The proposed merger would enable Enbridge-Spectra to artificially raise prices on natural gas. Enbridge-Spectra would be a dominant player in the Gulf Coast-Louisiana, U.S.-Canada border and Michigan. more alarmingly they state Enbridge has stated that rapid expansion has led to pipeline safety problems and the proposed deal would add thousands of miles of pipeline to Enbridge’s network.Full report here: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/sites/default/files/fww_enbridge-spectra_white_paper_jan_2017.pdf
In Canada, renewable energy is overwhelmingly owned by fossil fuel companies and pipeline companies to the point it is challenging to invest in green energy while divesting from these same firms.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/difficult-to-invest-in-green-energy-in-canada-without-big-oil-1.3100233
If companies stand to profit more by keeping the public dependent on oil and nuclear power for energy supply, they have little corporate desire to promote their cheaper, cleaner renewable energy supplies. This is anti-competitive and creates a situation that may constitute as Abuse of Dominance under Canada's Competitions Act. http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/h_00511.htm
Retired OGG nuclear research scientist Frank Greening PhD (Chemistry) released a youtube video speaking of the fact the CNSC is a captured regulator more concerned for supporting nuclear industry than public safety. He states they have never rejected a permit. The CNSC is avoiding Scott Maden study that revealed problems. The Americans he worked with at Bruce Nuclear are appalled at our regulator working "hand in glove" with the operator and in the states this would not be tolerated. The Nuclear agency in the US shuts down unsafe situations. Not the same in Canada. Source here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlRI-3eWp7s

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Generally speaking corporate interests are only looking out for the interest of their own shareholders. I use index finger because the industry is only looking out for #1. They are the 1%. 

Unanswered Questions 
Richard Kuprewicz of Accufacts has over 40 years of experience with production, refining and pipelines. produced an independent report on the safety of Line 9 and is featured speaking of the risks in this online interview with the Dominion Podcast, His revelations in this podcast includes the following:
-stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is evident with extensive threats on Line 9B-Enbridge lied about the risks of hydro static tests on the pipeline under oath.-Someone made a decision to not do a proper assessment to save costs. -only three small segments were tested and the detailed protocols were not made public. Why not? -Canada needs more transparency regarding releases. -without a proper hydrotest, there is a high risk of pipeline rupture. Extreamly high probability within 5 years. 
The link to the podcast is here and he is the guest speaker 10 minutes in. 
 http://www.mediacoop.ca/audio/dominion-podcast-03-enbridges-line-9-pipeline/36395
As a former delegate of the Line 9 NEB hearings I participated in the CNSC hearings specifically to raise concern regarding the safety of both Darlington Nuclear and Pickering Nuclear Plants cooling systems. Both these nuclear plants are downstream of where Line 9 is located along Lake Ontario. I asked the CNSC the following:If a Line 9 spill reaches a sewer or tributary how long would it be for Enbridge to respond to the oil spill. Are the booms big enough? What if the spill happens in the winter when there is ice?What if it's bitumen not oil and it's not above the water it is in it at lower levels? How do you stop it entering the intake? If oil gets into the intake of the cooling water, who pays for the plant shutdown and/or clean up?  I did not get any reasonable response for these questions from CNSC. 
The transcript of the hearing is online and my  presentation begins on page 176 of the pdf. Note also on page 191, there is a huge typing error. A passage states:  I actually secured a request for areview for an environmental bill of rights on theprotection of the water and the rain. The proper term is Waterloo Moraine not water and the rain.  http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/the-commission/pdf/2015-11-02-HearingTranscript-edoc4887147-e.pdf
Currently both Darlington Nuclear and Pickering Nuclear have serious issues with zebra mussels getting into the intakes. It's clogging up the system resulting in shut downs costing millions. The remedy they used was sodiumhypochlorite to kill the mussels but it resulted in Cladophora algae blooms which also clogs up the system resulting in more shutdowns. Both issues are resulting in millions of dollars worth of maintenance issues and power plant shut downs. The use of the Chloride is harming the breeding ground of Whitefish which are waiting for listing on the endangered species list but listing was delayed, 
At that hearing, I spoke informally with other delegates including Indigenous representatives and that's when it clicked. Both systems are violation Treaty Rights. The implications are enormous. . Unfortunately when you raise concerns with these regulators directly, they generally don't provide answers. It is why I use middle finger to symbolize this weakness. If you ask a question to help mitigate a risk and they don't answer it's not because they don't know or can't answer.  It's just that they don't give a certain noun represented by the gesture of a raised middle finger. 

 Denial of Treaty Rights
I attended the Line 10 NEB hearing for a pipeline called Enbridge Line 10 on October 18 and 19 2016. That is when I learned that at the Federal Level of Planning there currently is no standard for completion for engineering reports for NEB processes.  The process for seeking permits at the NEB is based mainly on predictions because there is no criteria for the completion of engineering reports at the federal permit level. The evidence to support this fact is in the Transcript for the Line 10 NEB hearing on page 45 starting at Line 818 to 869 National Energy Board file A80075 International Reporting Inc. - OH-001-2016 Hearing Transcript Vol. 2.  https://apps.neb-one.gc.ca/REGDOCS/Item/View/3004864
Across Canada our Provincial policies include building codes,  pollution laws and engineering standards  Unfortunately these same laws don't apply to First Nation's communities because they are on federally regulated properties exempt from these same safety standards.  Indigenous Rights activist Arthur Manuel recently passed away but he published many books and reports clearly illustrating the fact that denial of Treaty Rights in Canada is serving as an illegal subsidy for industries. From what I have observed at both the CNSC and the NEB I agree. On a deep science level, I'd say this is the very heart of where the corruption began,
Being Mi'kmaq my people were the first Christian Nation in North America over 250 year before Canada was even formed. The Vatican Concordat of 1610 sealed our ability to do trade with Europe in exchange for our duty to protect Christians and to maintain our own faiths which according to treaty law, could be done inside or outside the Church. The church in the Vatican Concordat has an open window to signify that particular clause. We were always faithful to the terms of the treaties even to this day.  They are sacred agreements of partnership as is a marriage which is why the ring finger best represents the concerns of the Treaties. Unfortunately at this time we know someone is cheating in this relationship. Our treaties are being violated.  This is unacceptable. We need equal protections of lives for both our people for the long term. We need treaties honored and acted upon with compliance consistently. 
Who is the Crown?  
I assisted Chippewas of the Thames in preparation for their Supreme Court Case challenging Canada's decision to support the Line 9 approval on grounds that there was no Crown involvement at all with the approval process for the Line 9 pipeline. . Under Treaty Rights Nation to Nation consultation is supposed to be provided by the Govenor General's office in Canada yet nobody was appointed for this task prior to the NEB decision. I attended the hearing. I witnessed Canada's Supreme Court asked solicitors of Enbridge and other to clarify who the acting Crown was. Two of them stated they don't know.. The third simply stated, there was no Crown.  In the attachments is a quick one page summery of what I observed of Supreme Court Case  Here is a supporting article as well. http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674chippewas_kick_off_joint_rights_case_with_inuit_at_supreme_court/

If we can't even define who the Crown is for the NEB process in Canada it is reasonable to state the CNSC likely has the same issues too. I have witnessed disregard for the protection of fisheries and Treaty Rights in both forums. They all link to the same companies doing the same kinds of maneuverings. 
Tea is a fascinating thing. It is drink of dead leaves and flowers torn from living plants. The color not so dark as oil perhaps but it swiftly taints water in a cup adding tannic bitterness and it stains like blood.. Drink enough of it it will stain your teeth. . Drink far too much it can dissolve your bones with skeletal fluorosis. Follow the history of it's productions it leads back to an industry wrapped up in battles and conquests and the destruction of the natural world and exploitation of it's people. Here is the view in Assam India, hone to many of Britan's largest tea suppliers as featured by the BBC. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34173532

The wealthiest British tea companies operated out of Assam India yet they didn't provide the workers with toilets. They used Child labour and many of these children died of famine. It is tragic story but not an isolated case.
Indigenous people across Canada paid a heavy price for British Canada's prosperity. People live in homes worth millions in Vancouver as the homeless native guy dies on the lands of his ancestors outside on the streets.Kids in Attawapiskat and Wapekeka giving up their lives without hope. Many murders of Indigenous people go unsolved because it's cheaper to pay off the families for not investigating because they were simply too poor to care about.Innu going hungry because climate change is altering the lands and animals needed to survive. Grassy Narrow poisoned with mercury. Aamjiwnaang with petrochemicals in Sarnia.  The list of communities in distress is very long. How many without safe water?
The thing that I find most disturbing is that this is the same kind of future facing more and more Canadians if we don't act now. Just look to the south for the trend. 
The Trump administration is planning to weaken laws to the point that US citizens will have less money for education, food, infrastructure and programs etc. and as the wealthy in both Canada and the US increase off shore tax havens we will see the decline of funding for Hospitals, schools and government services resulting in severe austerity measures. Many nations are already experiencing this in Greece, Kazakhstan and other areas.  As oil phases out it will leave us with insurmountable debt loads yet big oil and big business is already investing in mega prisons, private guards, social monitoring  etc.  
Why put faith into vision from the same folks who can't make a cup of tea without killing people? 
The future does not have to be Orwellian. It needs to be built on common sense and social justice and equity. 
In closing here are some further suggestions.
Close tax loopholesEnd compensation to CEO's using sharesAllow the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to review long term agreements annually to see if investments are worth hanging on to or opting out. Allow Canada Pension Plan Invest Board to free up funds for short term smaller investments to help fund green energy infrastructure projects, small business and First Nation's infrastructure projects.  It's time to phase out oil and nuclearDon't privatize Hydro in Ontario. It's a money maker and we need to protect our tax base not abolish it. Enbridge does not hold a Certificate of Authorization with the Professional Engineers Act in Ontario and currently the Professional Engineers Ontario lacks jurisdictional powers to take this issue on so give that power to them to help improve objectivity with engineering and oversight issues. 
Thank you
Louisette Lanteigne700 Star Flower Ave. Waterloo OntarioN2V 2L2 Canada inf

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