Regulatory Overview
Woodfibre LNG is the first company in Canada to recognize a First Nations government as a regulator on a proposed industrial project and receive an environmental approval from an Indigenous People in the absence of a treaty.
Woodfibre LNG has been granted three major environmental approvals, the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement, British Columbia Environmental Assessment Certificate and Federal Decision Statement. Woodfibre LNG underwent a rigorous regulatory process, including:
- Approval of its Export License by the National Energy Board (now Canada Energy Regulator “CER”) in December, 2013
- Approval of the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement in October, 2015
- Issuance of its Environmental Assessment Certificate by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) in October, 2015
- Issuance of its Federal Decision Statement under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (now Impact Assessment Act) in March, 2016
- Approval of its application to extend its Environmental Assessment Certificate from the BCEAO in October, 2020
Woodfibre LNG maintains a regulatory filings library as well as regular reporting to Indigenous groups and other regulators at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
The Federal Decision Statement, issued in March, 2016, outlines 51 conditions to which Woodfibre LNG must comply during pre-construction, construction and operational phases of the Project. Regular updates on compliance to these conditions are submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency and posted to Woodfibre LNG’s regulatory filings library.
British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office
Woodfibre LNG is subject to 25 conditions as part of its Environmental Assessment Certificate and submits regular reports on the status of compliance with these conditions to the BCEAO. These conditions include requirements to establish plans and processes to protect marine water quality, marine fish and fish habitat, marine mammals, wildlife, and community services and infrastructure.
Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)’s environmental assessment process is the first legally-binding Indigenous-led environmental assessment of a project in Canada. The Agreement includes conditions applicable to Woodfibre LNG, FortisBC and the Province of British Columbia. Woodfibre LNG is responsible for 13 of the conditions identified in the Agreement. Woodfibre LNG and Squamish Nation have established an Environmental Working Group to ensure the Nation’s environmental conditions are met and Squamish Nation posts regular updates on its work.