U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) is putting pressure on the U.S. Coast Guard to update its oil spill prevention plans in response to a proposed Canadian oil pipeline that would terminate near Point Roberts.
The pipeline would span west from oil fields in Alberta to the coast of B.C., ending at the Roberts Bank port in Delta — neighboring Point Roberts and just a few miles from Blaine. The pipeline, which was announced on July 2, would transport up to a million barrels of oil every day, according to the provincial government of Alberta’s website.
Construction for the pipeline has not begun, but Alberta’s government said it could start as early as September 2027 after all approvals and permits have been made. Alberta will partner with Trans Mountain Corp. and Pembina Pipeline to build the pipeline.
Alberta’s plans call for a 260-hectare marine terminal, 15 oil storage tanks capable of holding 6.5 million barrels of crude and two berths designed to load very large crude carriers carrying up to 2.2 million barrels of oil each. The project is estimated to cost between $35.2 billion and $43.7 billion, with construction targeted to begin as early as 2027 and operations beginning between 2032 and 2034, if approved.
On July 21, Larsen — the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — demanded answers from the Coast Guard on whether it was monitoring the potential pipeline, and to inform Congress on how it planned to update the Canada-United States Joint Maritime Pollution Contingency Plan, which covers marine oil spill prevention and cleanup procedures.
“I’m really limited in what I can do to raise concerns from the U.S. side,” Larsen said in an interview with The Northern Light. “I know that my constituents, from Lummi and Swinomish tribes … to folks who live in the San Juans, all of them have very serious concerns about the potential of an oil spill, which won’t respect the water border at all if it does happen.”
Larsen said he has still not received any written response from the Coast Guard. Media inquiries from The Northern Light were not returned prior to press time.
The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act requires the Coast Guard confer with other federal agencies and Congress over changes to its maritime pollution plan within 180 days of passage. Larsen said that deadline has come and gone, and now wants an update from the Coast Guard by Aug. 31.
Larsen said the Coast Guard has not prioritized protecting the Salish Sea, and has been too focused on immigration enforcement operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“We need to make sure the Coast Guard is doing its job and not focused on other issues that are not related to their job,” Larsen said. “There’s a lot of concern in Congress about whether the Coast Guard as a whole has the focus it needs on its statutory duties versus being dragged down to the southern water border in order to do work.
“I want to be sure that we have the assets here in the shared waters of the Salish Sea in order to do the appropriate pollution prevention, and marine safety mission that is going to be necessary in order to decrease the possibility of a massive oil spill risk,” he said.
The Coast Guard has ramped up efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border under the Trump Administration, with “Operation River Wall” moving personnel from around the country to the 260-mile stretch of the Rio Grande River that separates the two countries.
According to an October statement from acting commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, the operation greatly increased the number of response boats, shallow watercraft and other assets along the Rio Grande River.
“U.S. Coast Guard is the best in the world at tactical boat operations and maritime interdiction at sea, along our coasts, and in riverine environments,” Lunday said. “Through Operation River Wall, the Coast Guard is controlling the U.S. southern border along the Rio Grande River in eastern Texas.”
Larsen hasn’t been the only one to express concern over the proposed pipeline and terminal, which would be located within Tsawwassen First Nation Treaty lands.The Nation issued a recent statement saying it has not yet been approached by the Albertan or Canadian governments.
“Tsawwassen First Nation is a modern Treaty Nation, and our Treaty rights are constitutionally protected,” Executive Councilor Valerie Cross said in a July 3 statement. “We have not been consulted on this proposal. If this project proceeds, we expect to be meaningfully involved from the earliest stages of planning and decision-making.”
Tsawwassen First Nation has not taken a position on the project, saying any decision will come only after technical review and community engagement.
Larsen said he has been in contact with Swinomish and Lummi tribes over the potential pipeline, and said both are “very concerned” about the potential for oil spills.
“We’re trying to do things to help salmon recover here in the Salish Sea,” Larsen said. “That requires habitat and habitat restoration. I don’t want to see years of work being turned around because of a massive oil spill.”
Larsen said he has already spoken with Mark Wiseman, ambassador of Canada to the United States, regarding the issue. His office is also preparing a request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about its role in mapping shipping routes through the labyrinthine Salish Sea.
When asked what he, or any member of Congress, could do to stop, slow or impede construction of the pipeline, Larsen didn’t seem confident.
“I don’t have a good answer for you on that one,” Larsen said.
