I would like to express concern about the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Canada. The project will endanger all parties in the long run, and hence we should not support it.
Trans Mountain will negatively impact the Salish Sea in Washington and will be detrimental to the already declining orca and salmon population. Do we really want to endanger these animals by constructing this project? Being a teenager, it is hard for me to digest the fact that I may never be able to see an orca in the wild in my lifetime as a result of our actions.
Furthermore, the Salish Sea has always been a center for economic activity with many jobs in the whale-watching industry, so this expansion of the pipeline could lead to a loss of jobs and revenue for the government.
Lastly, the Trans Mountain Pipeline has spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil, resulting in contamination of local water tables. This could lead to serious health issues for us if the pipeline is built.
Being a Washingtonian, it is a matter of pride to be called “the Evergreen State,” but if we cannot set an example for environmental standards, then who will?
