People circulate at an info session hosted by Kinder Morgan

People gaze at some of the concept designs at the Kinder Morgan open house

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It was the first chance people in the Lower Mainland have had to check out Kinder Morgan’s plans to twin its pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby.

The info session included project details laid out on poster boards and experts to answer questions.

Many who came to the open house in North Vancouver had already made up their minds about the project.

“I think the increase in tanker traffic to the Port of Vancouver is just a catastrophic mistake. When a spill happens in the Salish Sea, it would devastate our coastline, and it’s too precious to us to take that risk,” said one woman.

She wasn’t alone. Many people fear potential accidents.

“An increase to one oil tanker a day is going to massively increase the risk for Vancouver,” said one North Vancouver woman.

“It’s not worth the risk. I’m concerned about spills and leaks and to that regard I haven’t heard too much reassurance,” said another.

Others were dissatisfied about the information provided.

“I’m just kind of concerned that maybe some of these pipelines are going to be going through private properties, so I’m not for it,” said one man.

“They’re here to sell the project, they’re not here for public engagement,” said another.

Both Vancouver and Burnaby mayors have already come out opposed to the plans, and the province wants the company to beef up oil spill prevention and response before it will support the project.

This was the first of many info sessions set for the Lower Mainland.