www.cedunham.org
Cliquez ici pour visiter le site web CED. CED (Comité pour l'Environnement de Dunham)
est une instance citoyenne démocratique permanente qui se préoccupe
des facteurs, conditions et événements susceptibles de menacer
l'intégrité de notre territoire et de notre communauté...
The Dunham Committee for the Environment (CED) details its objections to the proposed oil-pipeline pumping station
DUNHAM, 2010/02/16.
The Comité pour l'Environnement de Dunham (CED) has published a lengthy document outlining
various objections to the proposed oil pumping station in Dunham as well as to the idea of the
reversal of the direction of flow of oil in the pipeline. The corporation involved is Pipe-Lines Montreal Lte (PLML).
This report aims to provide a brief overview of the CED document for those who can't read French.
We also refer you to the detailed letter of January 7, 2010, in English, by Christelle Bogosta,
published on this website.
Original CED document in French.
Christelle Bogosta letter in English.
The CED document's table of contents is as follows:
- Project
- Timeline / overview
- Claims by the company
- Silences and contradictions by the company
- Analysis of some opinions
- Numerous accidents worldwide
- Arguments against the project: dangers
- Conclusion / action
The company PLML owns the oil pipelines that pass through Dunham, Sutton and Mansonville on the route from
Montreal to Portland, Maine. They now want to install a pumping station at the corner of Favreau and
Childerhouse in Dunham in order to be able to reverse the flow of oil. This 18-inch pipeline dates from
1950. Two massive pumps would be required to lift the oil up and over the Sutton range, approximately a
350-meter rise.
The PLML pipeline leaves Monteal-Est heading southeast via Boucherville, Ste-Julie, St-Basile-le-Grand,
St-Mathias, Marieville, St- Angele-de-Monnoir, St-Cesaire, Ange-Gardien, Farnham, Brigham, Cowansville,
Dunham, Sutton, Mansonville, and it passes under several rivers including the St-Laurent, Richelieu,
Yamaska, and the Missisquoi, before it continues across Vermont and New Hampshire on its way to Maine.
The objections to the pumping station project listed in the CED document include the following:
- PLML has not provided enough information about the possible fragile state of the 60-year-old pipeline,
and the dangers of increasing the pressure
- The tar-sands oil which is to be pumped to Portland Maine is very corrosive, having a higher sulphur
content, which further endangers the old pipeline
- The old pipeline should be rebuilt if the reversal of flow is allowed to happen
- There are better, non-agricultural sites along the pipeline route where the pumping station could be built
- The proposed station contradicts CPTAQ rules on the use and preservation of farmland
- There have been incidents of leaks and oil spills in the recent history of the PLML pipeline
- There were problems with the PLML Mansonville pumping station, including excessive noise and lack of a proper catch basin
- Any leak or oil spill would be disastrous for this agro-turistic region, especially for local streams and well water supplies
- The increases in tax benefits for the municipality and the economic windfalls for the region have been exagerated by PLML
The CED document also lists numerous environmental disasters related to other pipeline systems.
Please refer to the original French-language text, rather than this quick translation, for precise meanings and complete information.
Original CED document in French.
Christelle Bogosta letter in English.