Washington Congressman Demands Spill Response Review for Canada's BC Pipeline

Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democrat from Washington State and the top member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has expressed concern about a new oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.'s Roberts Bank terminal.

The congressman believes the increased oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea raises the risk of catastrophic oil spills that could harm marine ecosystems on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Larsen has sent a letter to a top U.S. Coast Guard official seeking details about co-ordination efforts around a Canada-U.S. pollution contingency plan, which outlines how the two countries prepare for and respond to oil spills.