Sarnia Observer -- Walpole wants input on refinery

Walpole Island leaders are calling for First Nation representation on an environmental panel that would study Shell Canada's multi-billion refinery proposed for Lambton County.

Calling the current environmental process a "conflict of interest" for Ontario, Walpole Island is asking the federal government to conduct an Environmental Assessment (EA) as an independent panel study, complete with full public hearings.

"Only a panel study with First Nations representation will ensure that our concern that the proposed refinery's air and water emissions from shutdowns and startups and fugitive emission sources are fully understood and addressed in the EA," a form letter sent by residents to Transport Canada states.

Project opponents are concerned about the imposition of a provincial Ministerial Zoning Order to provide zoning amendments on property optioned by Shell for the proposed plant.

The decision rests with one ministry representative who has "pre-judged the EA and has decided that the effects of an industrial refinery are acceptable without an approved EA," the letter states. "In essence, the provincial Crown has joined with Shell Canada to become a single proponent for this EA."

Following a meeting hosted by Walpole Island earlier this week, local residents were urged to file letters to environmental officials with Transport Canada.

"This is not the place to build a Shell plant," said St. Clair Township resident Gayle Farr.

A sign on her riverfront property reads: No to Shell.

Farr is said she's worried that local elected leaders are pandering to Shell, publicly stating they will to do whatever they can to speed up the process.

"We feel expendable," Farr said.

At a recent county council meeting, St. Clair Township Mayor Steve Arnold said his municipality is at Shell's "beck and call," while Lambton County passed a motion reaffirming its support for the project.

Shell spokesperson Heather Cooper said the company has followed all provincial and federal regulatory guidelines.

"The decision is not a Shell decision," she said regarding the EA process.

Since announcing the project in 2006, Cooper said Shell has worked closely with local government, the public and First Nations representatives on the environmental process.

"We believe there has been ample opportunity allowing public input in the process we're following."

The Shell refinery is far from a done deal, company officials say, because of escalating costs, competition from as many as five other communities and opposition from environmental groups.

Both Environmental Defence and Forest Ethics are opposed to Shell's proposal, saying that a barrel of oil from the tar sands results in three times as much greenhouse gases as regular crude.

However, an environmental consultant firm contracted by Shell has said the proposed refinery would use state-of-the art technology that would reduce emissions compared to Shell's existing St. Clair Township plant.

A final decision on the refinery is two years away.