Category: Environment


The City of Merritt is starting its recovery plan today at 12 noon, after finishing a rapid inspection program to classify damage and accessibility to property.

Roadblocks will remain in place at access points to the City.

PHASE ONE

Phase 1: North of the RCMP Station

We anticipate that the evacuation order for this phase will be lifted on Tuesday, November 23rd at 12:00 PM (noon).

Critical information for residents returning as part of phase 1:

  • The phase 1 area will be on “Evacuation Alert” status
  • The phase 1 area is on “Boil Water Notice”, meaning that all water must be boiled before it is consumed.
  • The City asks that residents be extremely conscious of water use, as the Kengard well is the only well currently feeding this system and minimizing water use is necessary to preserve fire flow.
  • Prior to return, residents should acquire sufficient food and supplies to be self-sufficient for 72 hours. Grocery stores in the phase 1 area are working to come online for November 23, 2021, though reduced hours may be in place and there is no guarantee on what products will be available.
  • Garbage and recycling service will commence the week of November 29th, 2021 (commercial service will begin immediately)
  • The City will be providing reduced levels of snow clearing service.
  • The City has reduced flows for fire protection, which is being partially offset by water tanker and water truck vehicles on standby.
  • Hydro, gas and internet utilities are all operational in the phase 1 area.
  • The City is coordinating with the School District, which is developing a plan for remote learning for students in our community, alongside a plan for returning to physical locations.
  • At the outset, the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre will not be open. 9-1-1 services will be available with service to Kamloops. Interior Health is actively working on bringing additional health services online.

During this phase, roadblocks will remain on Voght Street at Grimmett Street, on Nicola Avenue at Juniper Drive, and on Nicola Avenue at Coldwater Road.

Access from Highway 8 to retail stores in the Northeast of Merritt will be via Juniper Drive. A reduced speed zone of 30 km/h will be implemented on Juniper Drive and Parker Drive (Figure 1 – Detour Route).

Nov16-17th

On this Day: November 18th 1963

The first push-button phone.

I can’t tell you why.

ICBC and injury law,
File Photo KDG

BC flooding update…

Work is going on to open highways. Now is not the time to travel.

Monitor drive BC

Some flood warnings are still in effect.

Operational updates.

BC Government to get a deferral on old growth from first nations.

On November 2 the provincial government announced that it would be working in partnership with First Nations to defer the harvest of 2.6 million hectares of BC’s most at-risk old growth forests. Logging deferrals are viewed as a temporary measure – as recommended in the 2020 Old Growth Strategic Review – to allow for the development of a new approach to sustainable forest management that prioritizes ecosystem health.

Source

Logging has been a good livlihood for BC.

Large logging trucks need industrial facilities as they can not be parked in residential areas. File Photo KDG

Ferry Creek March 2021

On this Day: November 12th 1954

Elis Island shuts down operations.

The TMX project is ongoing, and the existing line will be running at capacity for the month of October 2021.

Workers song:

Pipe for oil field
File: Photo KDG

Seven percent apportionment (nominations for tariff on possible shipping), over capacity.

The volume of oil to run is at capacity, with 7 percent to be apportioned.

The energy sector around the world works on a monthly cycle. The Trans Mountain Pipeline is part of that cycle. Apportionment describes the amount of demand shippers place on the pipeline in excess of its available capacity. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the apportionment determination that’s carried out every month for the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline system.

TM today
  • Each month our shippers submit requests for how much petroleum (crude oil and refined products) they want to ship through the pipeline to service their customers. These requests are called ‘nominations’.
  • Based on shippers’ nominations, we then determine the ‘capacity’ available on the pipeline for the month. Determining pipeline capacity is complex. Capacity is affected by, among other things, the types of products that have been nominated, any pipeline system maintenance activities that will reduce flows that month and carry-over volumes that haven’t completed their transit of the pipeline by month’s end.
  • Based on available pipeline capacity and the volume of shipper nominations we received, we calculate apportionment using a method accepted by the Canada Energy Regulator and forming part of our tariff. A tariff includes the terms and conditions under which the service of a pipeline is offered or provided, including the tolls, the rules and regulations, and the practices relating to specific services.
  • If shipper nominations are less than pipeline capacity, the apportionment percentage to that destination is “zero” and all the product volumes nominated by shippers are accepted to be transported that month.
  • If shipper nominations exceed pipeline capacity, the apportionment is a percentage greater than zero.

Apportionment has been up to 40 percent…

The apportionment ( over capacity nominations) is sometimes up to 40 percent. This is a good indication that expansion is a good business plan.

1958 footage

The pipeline in use at this writing is the one that was built in 1958. The expansion project is building another line beside it.

On this Day: October 12th 1968

Hugh Jackman, actor, born.

Editors warning …

This post is not meant to be a complete guide to poison safety. We only want to draw attention to the observance. More attention to poison safety then what is published here is required.

Some Black Berries can be poisoned,. You need to be aware of the colours of berries and other traits to be confident to eat them.


“Stay away from berries on plants with spines, bitter smells, or milky sap.
 In general, the following plants are not safe for humans to eat, including the berries. You should check for:”

According to Wiki Help here is a start for your diligence:

  • Milky or odd-colored saps.
  • Berries or nuts in pods and bulbs
  • Bitter or soapy taste
  • Spines or small pointy hairs
  • Pink, purple, or black spurs.
  • Three-leaved growth pattern (like poison ivy)[1]

Animals in the fall can be drunk..

The frost can ferment berries in fall and winter making large animals eating them drunken visitors.

Bear scat, Merritt BC and Mountain Ash berries,
Mountain Ash are usually in peoples yards .
File Photo KDG

On this Day: September 29th 480 BC

The battle of Salamis’; Persians defeated by Greeks .

Trans Mountain Expansion Update…

The TMX organisation took part in the UBCM, Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention this September.

Ian Anderson, Trans Mountain president hosted a virtual breakfast for 23 mayors of impacted communities through Microsoft teams.; this was the sixth breakfast TMX has participated in at the

UBCM annual conventions.

A matched donation to the Red Cross, Registered Fire Appeals Fund was made by TMX in support of the wildfire situation during the fire season.

10,000 workers engaged…

Pipe for oil field
File: Photo KDG

On this Day: September 28th 1825

The first passenger breaks the 15 MPH barrier, causing fear.

Pipe for oil field
File :Photo KDG

Canada agreed to a goal of 30 percent reduction of Green house gases by 2030. This was at the Paris accord in 2015. the base line was 2005 emissions, to set reduction plans by.

2018 broad set PCF: Canadian frame work on clean growth and climate change; backstop jurisdiction:

The charge on fossil fuel 10 dollars increasing yearly to 50 dollars by 2022.

Out put based pricing on Industrial facilities same price as equivalent fossil fuel 10 x5 = 50 dollars a ton 2022.

Government of emissions reduction, update.

On July 12 2021, Johnathon Wilson, minister filed a report to the UN saying that the commitment for 2030’s emissions level in Canada is increased from 30 percent 40-45 percent by that same year.

15 dollars per ton increase for overage in carbon emissions…

To get to the 40-45 percent reduction the government registered a 15 dollar raise in carbon tax on both backstops.

Output based base line.

The base from which facility emission is calculated is 70 % of a “Production based national average of the intensity of emissions. This cap and trade leaves 30 % to tax and set as a goal to reduce so as to lessen tax.

Net zero by 2050

Canada passed laws to support net zero growth by 2050.

Editors note:

The UN has no jurisdiction to enforce any convention, however Canada has passed a number of laws to support its participation in this endeavor. The September 20th Canadian election is obviously a necessary seeking of a parliamentary mandate to support the goals of government including the trans mountain expansion.

On this Day: September 14th 1402

The Battle of Homidon Hill, long bow success.

The music in the park completed its schedule last Thursday with Amanda Lamothe and her Indigenous story telling show. Next summer we are hopeful for better conditions.

On this Day: September 9th 1972

The world longest cave network is found in Kentucky.

Editors note:

“Slave guides discovered deepest passages “, “Stephen Bishop”

Guides find “Blind Eyeless White fish” in caves

“For so long the story was not told.”

First photography features “guides only at cave entrance after toting heavy camera equipment in the depths”

“You can’t make this stuff up” PP

Black Foot Honour Song

deer,four point
Four point mule deer outside
Ponderosa sport in Merritt, BC
File photo KDG

Net income up by 33.3 Mullion.

The net income in the second quarter increased by 33.3 million to 63,1 million, over doubling from the second quarter last year. The quarter generated a 10 million dollar tax liability due to increased income.

Two consistent quarters

Net income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 increased by $59.4 million to $114.4 million, as compared to $55.0 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase is mainly due to the $81.3 million increase in equity AFUDC, due to spending on the Expansion Project, partially offset by the $19.3 million increase in income tax expense, due to higher pre-tax income, the $2.2 million increase in interest expense, and the $2.0 million decrease in Adjusted EBITDA.

TMX

EBITDA

A company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (commonly abbreviated EBITDA, pronounced) is an accounting measure calculated using a company’s earnings, before interest expenses, taxes, depreciation, and amortization are subtracted, as a proxy for a company’s current operating profitability (i.e., how much profit it makes with its present assets and its operations on the products it produces and sells, as well as providing a proxy for cash flow).

Two quarter increase due to customer funded equity.

Customer Income toward construction, is not moved to inventory or assets, and will eventually go to capitalization.

Who is the customer.

Trans Mountain moves oil by tariff, The 12 billion dollar (funding) cost of construction of the expansion should end up as capitalized expenses and will be written off against taxable income on a scaled annual basis and rate. Meaning that if it is ever sold the deprecated rate will be subject to recapture at a selling price that morally, should shadow fair market value or better, a profit for the Canadian taxpayer when they sell..

On this Day: August 7th 2021

The first post Afghanistan war, American purple heart day is observed.

Colin Dodd’s, Accountants song…

Pipe for oil field
File: Photo KDG

Trans Mountain Expansion,, TMX is a pipeline that is a twinning of an existing one that comes from the Edmonton Alberta area and brings Alberta crude west through Burnaby to refineries in the US that process and distribute oil products into the free market. Trans mountain works on a tariff system that it charges producers to transport the crude to destinations. They do not own the oil.

Know as the trans-mountain apartments,
Merritt BC File Photo KDG

Owned by the Government of Canada.

The 60 year oil company that was the Trans Mountain Pipeline was bought the Trudeau Government from US investors to ensure that the national interest of its bringing oil from Alberta was secure against the “oppression of the majority” and other dynamics of the provincial interest of big against small, wealth transfer, strategic supply of the needed chemicals for energy, food , medicines, and the sovereign Canadian ability to mange its own.

Trans Mountain pipeline was commissioned in March 1951, after an act of the Canadian Parliament created it.

Trans mountain pipeline was born in the public interest, moved in and out of public control over its life time and at this time remains steadily in Canadian public control, at least until completion of and the maturity of its role in the supply line. The standards of construction and maintenance may exceed what is generically called an oil pipeline elsewhere in the world, which is good we believe. The following videos are produced by Trans Mountain however they are film and can be easily verified by interested.

Climate Change Emergency.

The discourse of the current federal election has some candidates calling global warming as an emergency situation. We agree that the demands of human population is making for all kinds of emergency situations and they all need attention. The carbon thing is to be addressed by emissions controls after use and requires industry to do it if other needed dynamics are not to be neglected.

Insurance

Some are calling for the insurance industry to not give insurance to the TMX operations, in an effort to stop the construction. We have not researched who may be providing insurance to the operations. However for those that find comfort in the fact that insurance company’s often partner by under writing projects we would remind you that the Canadian Government self insures its operations as do some large corporations and because the TMX operations are government owned its a mute point to try to undermine its construction by that kind of boycott

Sense of place

The way the expansion and indeed the continuation of life on earth should not violate our peoples sense of place or belonging.. Three generations have come along of people that directly benefited from Trans Mountain operations, sense of place is well established with these, we hope that those that are not at arms length will try to and speak out when needed, to support the good things, that may come to the people in the macro sense.

Emergency assistance to keep the health and safety of workers.

Trans Mountain is available to assist in wildfire management in BC.

We have offered the use of our camp communities in Merritt and Clearwater for evacuees and are currently housing evacuees and firefighters working in the area in our Merritt facility. In Kamloops, work was stood down in Kenna Cartwright Park and Pineview Park areas as requested by the City of Kamloops, with team members helping to mitigate fire risk by wetting and cutting grass in areas under active construction for the Expansion Project. Trans Mountain also supported the Robson Valley Fire Service response efforts with a skidder and water tank after a fire ignited in the North Thompson region.

TM Today

Merritt BC Camp

The Merritt Camp Community is a self-sufficient site connected to power with on-site water and sewer infrastructure. The camp community will house up to 400 people working on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and is operated by Civeo through a joint venture partnership with the Lower Nicola Indian Band.

Source TMX today

Serious Presence, Including HDD…

Nicola River File Photo KDG

Still in the Q for crossing ?

Playlist : Leon Bridges…

You Tube Music
UTM

On this Day: August 17th 1959

Quake lake is formed in Montana.