AS - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 28, 2001 Oil, gas review to be included In marine bill By JENNIFER LANG A FEDERAL bill Skeena MP Andy Burton has called the biggest threat to oil and gas exploration off B.C.’s coast is one step closer to becoming law. Bill C-10, which will lead to the creation of marine parks, was poised to pass third and final reading in the Liberal-dominated House of Commons yesterday. The bill now includes an amendment — one of 30 Bur- ton had proposed ~ requiring mineral exploration reviews for proposed marine conservation areas. The Alliance MP says Bill C-10 has the power to halt oil and gas exploration off B.C.’s coast. Clause 13 in the bill says marine conservation areas will be protected from ocean dumping, undersea mining - and oil and gas exploration and develop- ment. Changes to the bill at the committee stage make it mandatory for mineral ex- ploration reviews to be car- tied out when an area is { protection. “| The amendment also en- | sures the results of the mi- neral exploration review Andy Burton and assessment will be made public. “Tt was significant,” Burton said of the amendment, “because at least now we'll know what was in an area,” If important mineral reserves inside a proposed con- servation area are documented, that information could bolster the argument against keeping development out. “We can argue from some knowledge, instead of fighting it after the fact,” said Burton. Burton is just one of a number of political and busi- ness leaders in the northwest who have come out in fa- vour of looking at lifting the moratorium, Once approved in the House of Commons, Bill C-10 heads to the Senate. “They may rubber stamp it,” Burton said. “They may say, ‘No, we’re going to take a hard look at it.’ [ hope they will.” Burton said he expects the B.C. government will niake its decision on whether to lift its off-shore oil and gas exploration moratorium early in the new year. That's when a B.C.-government appointed scientific review panel is expected to complete a risk assessment report. Burton, meanwhile, is surprised environmental groups are geating up for a campaign against lifting the mora- torium. “They drill for off and gas ali over the world,” he said. “They’ve got 200 gas wells in the Great Lakes,” He thinks if it’s done properly, drilling poses minimat risk to the environment because technology has im- proved. . 7 Gwaii Haanas on South Moresby in the Queen Char- lotte Islands is the only immediate candidate for becom- ing a marine conservation area once the bill becomes law. Shell, Chevron, Petro Canada and Mobile Oil, have already given.up their petroleum rights in the area. The Worid Wildlife Fund, which has based its pacific coast operations in Prince Rupert, is working to help es- tablish Gwaii Haanas as a marine conservation area. Last week the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Socie- ly released the results of a poll that asked 300 B.C. resi- dents about marine protected areas off the coast. Society conservation director Sabine Jessen said the poll shows strong support — 60 per cent — in favour. The poll, conducted by Strategic Communications Inc., was conducted Oct. 10-13, and is accurate within 5.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20, That’s Skeena water flowing from city taps — SKEENA RIVER water will continue to flow from fau- cets in Terrace until close ta Christmas, city officials predict. That's how long it’s now expected to take far final re- pairs to the Frank St. well’s electric motor since it blew up on Oct. 3, says director of engineering services Mar- vin Kwiatkowski. The cost of the repairs, taking place in North Caroli- na, are expected to be $50,000, he said. Water apparently got into the motor assembly, caus- ing the failure. The nine-foot-long torpedo-shaped pump assembly could be back here as early as this week, but Kwiatkowski said it may take a couple more weeks to get it back on line, “Later in December is my guess, around Christmas time,” he said. Murky water flowed from Terrace taps initially after the well failure because the city briefly used the Deep Creek watershed, But Kwiatkowski said some locals were alarmed by the colour of the water and the city stopped doing that after a week, Since then the cily has been exclusively drawing water from the Skeena River. “The Skeena was a lot cleaner,” Kwiatkowski said. The clarity of the water being drawn from surface sources depends on how much rain falls, and how much sediment is swept into streams. The Skeena water got a bit dirtier in the last couple of weeks because of heavy rainfall, Kwiatkowski added, But the water is safe, he said. The city is using up to three times the normal amount of chlorine to kill organisms in the water that are much rarer in the well water.. The water quality is checked frequently and test re- sults go to local health officials. The city’s switch to -well water in 1995 ended its reliance on surface water, But not everyone was impressed. Local tea connois- seurs and others complained of the harder water. 1 being considered for marine - ES9 HELLO 10 GOOD BUYS Camm crm News In Brief t porruP MacKay’s Funeral Service Ltd. Degrees possible NORTHWEST COMMUNITY College has hooked up with an Alberta-based on-line university so that students in selected areas of studies can receive four-year bachelor degrees, The agreement with Athabasca University allows college students to transfer credits worth up to two years of study toward three and four year bachelor programs. The agreement applies to those working on inte- grated human service and social service worker di- plomas in Terrace, on business administration di- plomas in Terrace and Prince Ripert, on the coastal integrated resource management diploma in Prince Rupert and on the integrated resource management diploma in Smithers. In some circumstances, students could receive a degree in three years instead of four. “The flexibility of Athabasca University in al- lowing this kind of transfer credit provides more people with more options,” said NWCC president Stephanie Forsyth last week. “Often people don’t have the resources they need to leave home to at- tend another university and achieving a degree in this manner reduces costs substantially.” Nurse word expected NORTHWEST COMMUNITY College (NWCC) officials are expecting to hear this week that their proposal for a licensed practical nursing program is moving forward. A lengthy document outlining the NWCC plan was scrutinized by the B.C. College of Licensed Practical Nurses last week. NWCC registrar Brian Loptson said the results of that scrutiny should be known this week. The next anticipated event is a visit here from two people from the college of licensed practical nurses. Those two people will examine the college’s fa- cilities as.well as those of health care institutions at which students will do work placements as part of their studies. Should that visit go well, NWCC anticipates ap- proval for a program start in late January. As of late ‘last week, an estimated 60 application pack- ages had been picked up interested people. N RIGHT, BE Serving Terrace, Kitimat, Smithers & Prince Rupert Monuments Concerned personal Bronze Plaques service in the Northwest Terrace Crematorium since 1946 4626 Davis Street Terrace, B.C. V8G 1X7 fi Furwsal Service = Phone 635-2444 © Fax 635-635-2160 Assocation 24 hour pager ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED ge fey Tp terracebullders@telus.net 3207 Munroe Street, Terrace * 635-6273 ® 1-800-470-DO-IT - GMGOODWRENCH ~~ _ PRE-WINTER INSPECTION | Plus tax INSPECTION INCLUDES: oe * Cooling fluid test for quality and level ¢ Battery test oe * Block heater/battery blanket-continult * Brake and power steering fluid level c * Serpentine belt check - * Tire condition check * Exterior car wash At your participating GM Osalarship, Applicable to mast vehicles. Shop and anvironmental charges included. Oaalar may sell for dass. See dealer for details, Oller ands Casembar 21, 2001,