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PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
The frustration of not having the funding or capacity to fully review documents related to pipelines and spills is one of the concerns that Pehdzeh Ki First Nation has raised with the National Energy Board (NEB).

Chief Tim Lennie of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation holds Enbridge Pipeline Inc.'s remediation action plan for the oil spill on the Norman Wells pipeline. Lennie said the First Nation doesn't have the resources to properly review the document. - Roxanna Thompson/NSSL photo

On July 27 representatives of the board were scheduled to meet informally with Chief Tim Lennie and the band council in Wrigley. Lennie instead invited the whole community to participate in the meeting.

Between 30 and 40 people, including a lot of young parents, attended the meeting. Lennie said he wanted the NEB, which is responsible for overseeing the clean-up of Enbridge Pipeline Inc's oil spill on the Norman Wells pipeline, to hear from his members.

"I really couldn't leave my members out," he said.

Lennie said the concerns that were voiced to the NEB are the same ones that have been heard over and over again since the spill occurred on May 9, including questions about the spill's potential impact on residents' health and the health of wildlife near the spill.

Residents would also like to see measures taken to increase the strength of the pipeline, including possibly changing the pipe or double lining it, said Lennie. People also want assurances there will be more regular testing conducted on the pipeline that could identify weak areas before spills occur.

One of the primary concerns, however, was related to the draft remediation action plan that Enbridge has developed for the spill. Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, along with Liidlii Kue First Nation and Dehcho First Nations, were provided electronic copies of the 674-page document on June 24 and asked to review it and provide comments to the company.

The First Nations were originally given until July 20 to comment but that deadline has since been extended. Lennie said his band doesn't have the finances or capacity to properly review the plan.

"We're doing what we can," he said.

Lennie said he's read parts of the document, and understands some of the details. There is lots of information and numbers, however, that require specialists to fully explain it, he said.

"The fine print is where the actual guts of the information is," said Lennie.

So far the band has been using in-house resources to review the plan. Lennie said he's not sure when the review will be completed, considering the document's size.

"For one community to review the document is ridiculous," he said.

Enbridge has provided funding to assist the three organizations with the review. Lennie said the $5,000 that was given to Wrigley isn't enough.

"It's an insult," he said.

Once it's completed, Enbridge will be submitting the remediation action plan to the NEB. The NEB will review the document to see how it aligns with the guidelines the board has provided companies for such plans, said Tara O'Donovan, a communications officer with the NEB.

The board also indicated it wanted the affected First Nations to review the plan and comment on it, O'Donovan said. If the board isn't satisfied with the remediation action plan or the community consultation plan it can direct Enbridge to take further steps.

In June the NEB ordered Enbridge to file summaries of its consultation results with potentially affected people including aboriginal groups on a quarterly basis. The reports are to include input provided by affected people and groups, a summary of the responses Enbridge has made to the input and a description of how outstanding concerns will be addressed.

Enbridge is also providing daily reports to the NEB on what has been accomplished at the spill site and how much of the oil has been collected.

"The board is actively involved in the clean-up until it's finished," O'Donovan said.

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