ORDER NUMBER
G-322-21
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation
Complaint Regarding Jet Fuel Line Abandonment of Service
BEFORE:
D. M. Morton, Panel Chair
on November 8, 2021
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. By letter dated April 30, 2021, PKM Canada (Jet Fuel) Inc. (PKMJF) informed the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) that the company’s approximately 41 kilometre long pipeline used to transport aviation turbine fuel (jet fuel) from the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby to the Vancouver International Airport (the Jet Fuel Line, or JFL) had been shutdown effective immediately;
B. By letter dated May 14, 2021, PKMJF informed the BCUC of its intention to permanently discontinue service on the JFL;
C. By letter dated May 14, 2021, the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation filed a complaint with the BCUC regarding the current abandonment of service of the JFL and PKMJF’s intention to permanently abandon service;
D. By Order G-154-21, dated May 20, 2021, the BCUC issued Directive 2, as follows: “PKMJF is directed to return the JFL to service, with all necessary safety measures and regulatory approvals in place, as soon as possible, but by no later than 30 days from the issuance of this order unless PKMJF can provide evidence satisfactory to the BCUC that it is unable to do so.”;
E. The return to service deadline established in Directive 2 was varied and extended by Orders G‑188-21, G‑233-21, and G-261-21, dated June 18, 2021, July 30, 2021, and September 3, 2021, respectively. The current return to service deadline is November 8, 2021;
F. By letter dated November 5, 2021, PKMJF requested that the BCUC provide relief from the return to service deadline imposed by Order G-261-21. In its letter, PKMJF provides reasons and refers to evidence submitted as to why an extension of the deadline to return the JFL to service until January 14, 2022 is required;
G. Execution of the return to service plan by PKMJF is ongoing. PKMJF intends to file, by no later than November 23, 2021, detailed proposals for returning the JFL to full or partial service. The timing of such a submission is dependent on ongoing consultation with the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission; and
H.
The BCUC has reviewed the evidence and submissions
filed to date and is satisfied that an extension to the return to service
deadline is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders that the return to service deadline in Directive 2 of Order G-154-21 and varied by Orders G-188-21, G-233-21, and G-261-21 is varied further and extended until January 14, 2022.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 8th day of November 2021.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. M. Morton
Commissioner