Sierra Club BC welcomes announcement of public comment on proposed provincial regulations for oil spill response

“We welcome today’s announcement of public comment on proposed provincial regulations for oil spill response. It is heartening to see the B.C. government modernizing our environment and public health regulations, and standing up for B.C.’s coast and rivers.

“It’s shocking that B.C. does not have similar regulations in place already, and that big oil corporations have been allowed to operate with relative impunity. With these proposed regulations, the B.C. government is seeking to bring our province up to par with safety and preparedness measures that our neighbors in Alaska and Washington have had in place for decades.

“No longer will B.C. be applying regulations from the previous century to today’s oil transport technology. The days of turning a blind eye are over. The B.C. government is standing together with B.C. residents and First Nations to protect these lands and waters, and all the jobs that would be lost in an oil spill.

“However, even with new regulations in place, no approach will be able to fully clean up a major spill. Spills are inevitable and the only way to avoid an increase in spills is to avoid expanding the shipping of fossil fuels.

“We will be encouraging British Columbians to engage in the government’s public consultation process and calling on the B.C. government to set the highest bar possible, so that B.C. is a responsible, healthy, safe place to live and do business, and no longer a wild west for big corporations transporting dangerous goods.”