The Dawson Creek Daily News newspaper Wednesday received a second letter linked to a string of natural gas pipeline bombings in the Dawson Creek, BC, area dating back to last fall. It gives EnCana Corp. a deadline for removing its oil and gas facilities.

EnCana facilities have become a frequent target of sabotage by those opposed to energy development in the Dawson Creek area. Last week the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stepped up its investigation of two recent bombings along EnCana natural gas pipelines. The company and law enforcement have been tangling with a bomber or bombers since last fall (see Daily GPI, July 7; Jan. 14; Dec. 19, 2008; Oct. 16, 2008).

“From an investigative standpoint the contents of the letter continue with the disturbing and dangerous actions that have occurred over the past year,” said Tim Shields, RCMP spokesman. “Many local residents could consider this letter to be a form of blackmail. Blackmail against industry and the residents living in the area who are directly threatened each time an explosion occurs.”

The latest letter outlines a timetable for oil and gas activities to cease, and calls the previous six explosions “minor and fully controlled.”

“Any act that directly threatens the lives of people living and working in the area is not minor. Make no mistake, the explosions that have occurred were extremely violent in nature and it is very dangerous to the local community. We have been very fortunate that nobody has been hurt or killed and our ultimate goal is to ensure the safety of our local residents and oil and gas workers,” said Shields.

RCMP investigators from INSET — the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team — are continuing to follow-up on recent tips from the community and are asking anyone with additional information to forward it to police.

The letter addresses EnCana in its salutation and reads:

“You simply can’t win this fight because you are on the wrong side of the argument. So stop pushing people around here.

“Cease all your activities and remove all your installations. Return the land to what it was before you came, every last bit of it, including your fancy gas plant at Kelly Lake before things get a lot worse for you and your terrorist pals in the oil and gas business. Use your excessive earnings to install green energy alternatives instead. That can be negotiated here but there will be no negotiation with you on fossil fuel activities. FULL STOP!!

“You have 3 months to convince the residents here and the general public that you will commit to this program meaning that all actions against you will cease for three months from the time of this note. We can all take a summer vacation including your security personnel and the RCMP who have not helped you to date anyway — which was the whole point of the six minor and fully controlled explosions: to let you know that you are indeed vulnerable, can be rendered helpless despite your megafunds, your political influence, craftiness, and deceit in which you trusted.

“Don’t press the issue in your pride and greed and force worse things to happen. In the meantime, give the people here room during these three months to talk about these problems unmolested by any further interrogations and/or investigations so that they can speak their minds without reprisal.

“You have 5 years to shut down and remove all the oil and gas facilities you have established over the last 8 years in our territories of the Tomslake and Kelly Lake districts. Don’t Delay!!”

People with information regarding the attacks, or the letters are asked to contact their local police department, CrimeStoppers, or to call the dedicated tip line at (866) 994-7473. “We know that the actions of whoever is responsible are not supported by the community and residents in the area,” said Shields.

According to a recent research paper, groups opposed to industrial development in the northern section of BC neighbor Alberta — including oil and gas drilling and pipelines — are unlikely to cease their legal and illegal efforts to stop it. However, “extra-legal obstruction” of development won’t become widespread unless the groups join forces, which isn’t likely (see Daily GPI, July 16).

An EnCana spokesman said the company was not commenting on the letter or its contents.

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