The B.C. Liberal government proposes creating an industry-funded group to prepare for and clean up oil spills on land similar to a federally-mandated body that exists for marine spills.

The government believes a model similar to the Western Canada Marine Response Corp. (WCMRC) could help create a world-leading spill response system, which it says is needed for it to support heavy oil pipelines to the B.C. coast.

It’s one of five conditions that Premier Christy Clark has stated must be met for her government to support projects such as Enbridge’s $6.5-billion Northern Gateway pipeline in northern B.C. or Kinder Morgan’s $5.4-billion Trans Mountain expansion to Burnaby.

Both projects are meant to open up new markets in Asia for bitumen from the Alberta oilsands.

Outlined in a policy paper released a week ago, the province’s land-spill proposal would also cover spills of oil from rail, and possibly be expanded to other industries.

It does not cover natural gas spills, as the province does not consider the gaseous spills a pollution threat.

It’s unclear how much money would be needed to fund a land-spill organization, but the WCMRC has an annual operating budget of $10 million and a capital budget for equipment of $6.5 million.

That group operates on behalf of industry, providing spill planning, training, equipment and responders.

It responds to about 20 spills annually.

B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak said she likes the WCMRC model because it has worked well.

“The fact that you can look to what’s happened in the marine environment, and really everyone seems to feel that it has a good track record, I think it only makes sense to explore how that could work on the land,” Polak said in an interview.

B.C. also proposes that oil and other industrial sectors help fund an expanded provincial Environmental Emergency Response Program.

The province is also calling for detailed area spill-response planning and drills from companies transporting oil.

The province wants feedback on its plan by the end of June.

While industry is supportive of the B.C. government’s effort to improve spill preparedness and response, there has been some pushback over industry’s belief that virtually all of the elements are already in place for a world-class land-spill response system.

Canadian Energy Pipeline Association spokesman Philippe Reicher said they don’t think a land-based spill organization is necessary.

Instead the pipeline association, the Railway Association of Canada and the WCMRC have suggested an industry-led steering committee be created to help improve communication and co-operation with regulators and other groups.

Reicher points to existing regulatory oversight by the National Energy Board for pipelines that cross provincial boundaries and by the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission for pipelines within the province.

Pipeline operators already must submit emergency response plans, train personnel and have equipment available, noted Reicher.

There is also an existing industry organization, Western Canada Spill Services, that provides assistance on land in Alberta and some parts of B.C. That organization has an annual operating budget of about $1.7 million.

“We don’t want to see duplication,” said Reicher.

Calgary-based Enbridge agrees.

The company supports the creation of the industry steering committee, Enbridge spokesman Ivan Giesbrecht said in an email.

The Northern Gateway project awaits a final decision from the federal Conservative government this summer, while the Trans Mountain project is expected to start its federal review soon.

Polak is promising to consult First Nations about the province’s plans to create a world-class land-spill response system in B.C.

The proposal calls for a larger role for First Nations and local communities in spill response.

But Carrier Sekani Tribal Council chief Terry Teegee said the council has not been involved in the planning and remains skeptical about efforts to mitigate spills.

“I don’t have much confidence in this whole scheme that they have for cleanup,” said Teegee.