The village of Belcarra will be applying for intervenor status in the federal review of the $5.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, the village council decided Monday.
Mayor Ralph Drew said the village is a neighbour to the Kinder Morgan terminal and, therefore, would be affected by lights and noise from additional tankers.
Residents are also concerned about the impact an oil spill would have on marine life in the sensitive habitat of Central Burrard Inlet, Drew said.
He plans to raise concerns about the need for a site-specific spill response plan to deal with oil leakage at the expanded Westridge Marine Terminal to protect three parks and three habitat areas, including Belcarra Regional Park.
He wants pre-staged oil booms as well as a rapid response and containment plan to ensure that oil is cleaned up before it destroys the ecosystem, as well as recreation and economic uses of the waterway.
"There are 12 issues that the [National Energy Board] hearings will be focusing on. I easily identified five different things that are applicable to us," Drew said.
Belcarra has until Feb. 12 to file the application.
