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By Adam Carter, CBC News
Posted: Jun 21, 2013 9:34 AM ET
Last Updated: Jun 21, 2013 9:33 AM ET
A group of protesters is still controlling an Enbridge pump station in rural Hamilton, Ont.
About 80 people interrupted construction at the North Westover site in Flamborough Thursday morning, and many camped out overnight, said protester Trish Mills when reached by phone at the site.
"It's pretty quiet this morning," Mills said. "There's a lot of us still here."
"We're really happy with the way it went."
Protesters have set up tents on the property and put their own locks on the gates of the facility. Workers are still allowed in to do safety checks, they say.
Hamilton police are still "monitoring the situation," said police spokesperson Debbie McGreal-Dinning. "Our role as police is just to protect the public, including the protesters."
'Complete disregard for the national energy process'
"We're here because we've noticed they've ramped up their construction," said protest spokesperson Elysia Petrone at the site on Thursday. "They are making improvements to the north pumping station, preparing to increase capacity."
Petrone added: "This is a complete disregard for the national energy process. This NEB (National Energy Board) process is a rubber stamp procedure."
One hundred and seventy-seven citizens, organizations and municipalities have applied to take part in hearings about Enbridge's plan to reverse the oil flow of Line 9B, which runs from Montreal to Westover near Hamilton. The cities of Hamilton, Burlington, Kingston, Toronto, Mississauga have applied for intervener status, along with musician Sarah Harmer.
Petrone says she's concerned about the environmental impact of the Enbridge project.
"This is my drinking water," she said. "I get my vegetables from Plan B (organic farm) about a kilometre from here. This is my food source. To not have a careful environmental assessment, any assessment at all, is shameful."
A broader resistance
Mills says most protesters intend to stay until the Line 9 reversal project is stopped. "Even if this comes to an end because of an intervention, there will still be a broader resistance," she said.
Ken Hall, a senior advisor for community relations for Enbridge said "We are willing to speak with these individuals about their concerns. I'm sure we can try to resolve this in due course."
Opponents say the flow reversal could raise the risk of a spill into places like the Beverly Swamp in the headwaters of Spencer Creek, Hamilton's largest watershed.
Earlier this month, representatives from local environmental group known as Hamilton 350 protested outside police headquarters, denouncing $44,410 in grants from the oil giant. Back in May, about 40 protesters staged a mock oil spill and cleanup on Highway 6 near Concession Road 6 to express their concerns about the pipeline.
Hamilton 350 said, in a press release, that protesters at the Westover terminal "look to be in it for the long haul" and have asked supporters to attend a rally on Friday at 11am across the street from the protest.
Calgary-based Enbridge describes itself as operator of the world's longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. It is proposing to build and run the $6.5 billion Northern Gateway pipeline, carrying oil sands bitumen to British Columbia for shipment overseas.
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