Woodfibre LNG assessment suspended pending consultation with First Nation

The B. C. Environmental Assessment Office has suspended its review of the $1.6-billion Woodfibre liquefied natural gas project to give the proponent time to respond to concerns raised by the Squamish First Nation.

The 180-day time limit for the review was suspended at Woodfibre LNG’s request, Michael Shepard, project assessment manager, said in an email to the various parties. The assessment will resume once the province is “satisfied with the information provided and with the adequacy of consultation with Squamish Nation,” he said.

Byng Giraud, vice-president of corporate affairs for Woodfibre LNG, said the company “made a commitment to Squamish Nation to participate in its own environmental assessment process.” The review period had been scheduled to end July 13.

Squamish First Nation has set five major conditions:

• More information on the environmental impact of the project’s sea water cooling discharge system on marine life in Howe Sound, including discharges of warm, chlorinated water, and the potential for small fish to be harmed by the intake system.

• Avoiding industrial impacts in the Squamish estuary within the 673-hectare Skwelwil’em wildlife management area, including a commitment to a drilled underground pipeline that starts and exits outside of the management area or circumvents it entirely.

• Relocation of FortisBC’s planned compressor station in industrial downtown Squamish to a location that poses no risk to on-reserve band members.

• Guaranteed access through controlled access zones on land and water to allow band members to continue their aboriginal rights, including fishing.

• Insurance coverage or a form of bond to address risks of personal loss and injury costs for band members in the event of a spill, explosion or accident.

The Squamish First Nation’s elected council hopes to sign a legally binding “certificate of project approval” with the proponent in July confirming the conditions will be addressed.

The project comprises construction and operation of a gas processing and liquefaction facility to produce annually about 2.1 million tonnes of LNG. Subject to approvals and a final investment decision, construction could begin in late 2015, and begin regular operation in 2018.