The organization tasked with cleaning up oil spills around Vancouver Island, the Strait of Georgia and Metro Vancouver鈥檚 coastline has signed a deal with the Sc鈥檌anew First Nation to build a response base in its East Sooke territory.
Western sa国际传媒 Marine Response, which has undertaken a $150 million spill-response 颅program to establish a network of response bases and procure as many as 48 new vessels in 颅preparation for the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, will establish a marine base at Cheanuh Marina and a warehouse nearby.
Construction of the new docks at the marina is expected to start in late October with a goal of completion by the summer. Construction of the office and warehouse building will begin in July.
The base will house 20 full-time response personnel and will be fully operational by fall 2022.
鈥淎s stewards of the sea, we have an obligation to 颅protect the ocean for our future 颅generations. The response base will allow us to enhance that 颅protection,鈥� said Chief Russ Chipps of the Sc鈥檌anew First Nation.
鈥淚f we aren鈥檛 ready to protect the environment, who is?鈥�
Western sa国际传媒 Marine Response will eventually 颅establish 120 personnel at six new response bases as a result of the Trans Mountain spill response enhancement 颅program.
The program includes 颅establishing or improving bases at Nanaimo, Port Alberni, 颅Ucluelet, Sidney, Beecher Bay and the Lower Mainland to deal with potential oil spills as a result of increased tanker 颅traffic.
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