Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. has submitted an application to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO) to obtain an Environmental Assessment Certificate.
Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada, is proposing to develop an approximately 650 km pipeline to deliver natural gas from the area near the community of Groundbirch, B.C., to the LNG Canada gas liquefaction facility proposed to be developed by Shell Canada Ltd. and its partners near Kitimat, B.C.
The proposed route of the pipeline runs between Fort St. James and Vanderhoof, crossing Highway 27 closer to Vanderhoof.
The proposed project would have an initial capacity of about two to three billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas per day with the potential for expansion up to about five bcf per day.
The expansion scenario assessed in the application does not involve the construction of additional pipeline; only the number of potential future compressor stations would change.
An electronic copy of the application and information regarding the British Columbia environmental assessment process are available at www.eao.gov.bc.ca.
The BC EAO has announced a 45-day public comment period, to begin on March 21, 2014, concluding on May 5, 2014.
The B.C. EAO, with the support of Coastal GasLink, will host four open houses in northern B.C. communities during this comment period.
The proposed Project is subject to review under British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act.
Starting on March 21, there are 45 days for the submission of comments by the public in relation to the application.
All comments received during this comment period will be considered.
The intention of seeking public comments is to ensure that all potential adverse effects – environmental, economic, social, heritage and health – that might result from the proposed project are identified for consideration as part of the assessment process.
The BC EAO accepts public comments through the following ways:
By Online Form: http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca
By Mail:
Brian Westgate
Project Assessment Manager
Environmental Assessment Office
P.O. Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9V1
By Fax:
250-356-7477
In addition to the online availability of the application, copies are available in digital or paper form at public libraries in the project area.
In order to provide information to the public about the application, and to receive comments from the public, the BC EAO invites the public to Open House events on the following dates:
March 27, 2014: Chetwynd and District Recreation Centre
April 1, 2014: Fraser Lake Recreation Complex
April 2, 2014: Burns Lake Heritage Centre
April 3, 2014: Riverlodge Recreation Centre, Kitimat
Coastal GasLink’s application consists of 7,200 pages of text, maps and tables.
The required content of the application was developed through a public process that generated the Application Information Requirements (AIR) issued by the EAO in May 2013.
The AIR process included a public comment period, open houses, and input from the EAO working group whose members represent federal, provincial, and local government and Aboriginal groups.
Beginning on January 29, 2014 the application was subjected to a 30-day completeness review by the EAO and the working group.
The completeness review ensured that the application met all the Application Information Requirements.