VANCOUVER, BC, November 29, 2011 - A new report released by a group of environmental organizations outlines the dangers associated with the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project and the risks of spills by massive oil tankers that would be transiting ecologically sensitive B.C. waterways.

The report was released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Pembina Institute and the Living Oceans Society. It has also been endorsed by nine British Columbia organizations.

"While the considerable environmental impacts of bitumen production are well documented, the increased risk and potential harm from transporting bitumen is less known," said Nathan Lemphers, senior policy analyst, the Pembina Institute.

"This report shows why the Northern Gateway pipeline is not worth the risk for the communities, rivers and Pacific coastline of British Columbia."

The release of "Pipeline and Tanker Trouble: The Impacts to British Columbia's Communities, Rivers, and Pacific Coastline from Tar Sands Oil Transport" comes as the battle over the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline project heats up in Canada and internationally.

The report highlights possible risks that the transportation of tar sands oil poses to communities along the pipeline route and by tanker transiting coastal waters.

The proposed Northern Gateway pipeline would carry bitumen from Alberta's tar sands through nearly 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) of rugged landscapes to Kitimat on British Columbia's northern coast. The pipeline terminus would there be serviced by over 220 supertankers each year sailing through B.C.'s North Coast waterways.

"There is fierce opposition in B.C. to allowing oil supertankers into our coastal waters and rightly so," said Katie Terhune, Energy Campaign Manager, Living Oceans Society. "History has shown that oil tankers come with oil spills.  It is not a question of if, but when, a spill will happen."

First Nations' communities have made it clear they want the current environmental review of the Northern Gateway project halted pending further consultations.

"Our communities have taken a stand against the Northern Gateway pipeline because we would lose everything," said Gerald Amos, member of the Haisla First Nation and Director of the Headwaters Initiative. "This pipeline is where we draw the line. Big oil pipelines and the accompanying oil super tankers mean that life as we know it will be over."

Several B.C. First Nations opposed to the Northern Gateway project will be holding a news conferencethis week to discuss the pipeline.

Enbridge disputes the environmental claims and says it's working on revenue-sharing deals with many First Nations.  

"Pipeline and Tanker Trouble" makes recommendations for provincial and federal policies associated with this project, asking for rejection of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline and the imposition of a ban on large oil tanker traffic off of British Columbia's coast.

NRDC has recently added its voice to growing Northern Gateway opposition, with members and activists sending almost 100,000 letters in the last month to the B.C. government and Enbridge asking that the pipeline not be built.

The report is available at http://www.nrdc.org/international/pipelinetrouble