Woodfibre LNG applies to amend its Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC)

Design changes are result of Squamish Nation process, and ongoing design work

SQUAMISH, BC –  Woodfibre LNG Limited announced today that it has submitted an application for an amendment to the Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) that was granted on October 26, 2015, for the construction and operation of the Woodfibre LNG Project (Project).

The proposed design changes to the Project are the result of the Squamish Nation selection of air cooling as the cooling technology for the project as well as ongoing front-end engineering design (FEED) work.

Woodfibre LNG is proposing the following design changes:

• Changing from seawater cooling to air cooling of the plant;
• Upgrading an existing intake on Mill Creek rather than constructing a new intake; and,
• Short-term use of water from Woodfibre Creek during construction.

The proposed changes would require an amendment to the EAC under British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act. The purpose of the amendment is to enable the Project to proceed with these proposed changes.

“The change in cooling technology is another example of Woodfibre LNG’s commitment to go beyond what is required to build a better project,” said Byng Giraud, Country Manager & Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Woodfibre LNG Limited.  “As the result of the Squamish Nation process, and ongoing FEED work, we believe Woodfibre LNG is setting the standard for incorporating First Nations and community priorities into the design and operation of the facility.”

The three proposed changes to the project will now be subject to a technical review (federal and provincial regulators in addition to municipal government representatives and First Nations), as well as a 30 day public consultation period. From February 9, 2017 until March 11, 2017, the public is invited to provide comment on the potential effects that may result from the proposed amendment.

The EAO accepts public comments through the following ways:

Online Form:  https://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/index.html

Mail:

Michael Shepard
Project Assessment Manager
Environmental Assessment Office
PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9V1

FAX:  250-387-0230

An electronic copy of Woodfibre LNG Limited’s EAC Amendment Application is available from the EAO web site and the Woodfibre LNG web site.

About Squamish Nation Process

The Squamish Nation conducted an independent review of the Woodfibre LNG Project under its own environmental assessment process. On October 14, 2015, Squamish Nation issued an Environmental Certificate for the Project that included conditions to be met by Woodfibre LNG. One of the conditions was that the Squamish Nation would evaluate and choose the cooling technology that is acceptable to Squamish Nation. In a letter dated October 19, 2016, Squamish Nation informed Woodfibre LNG that it chose air cooling as the technology to be used for the Project.

About Woodfibre LNG 

The Woodfibre LNG Project is located approximately 7 km west-southwest of Squamish, British Columbia, involves construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility on the previous Woodfibre Pulp Mill site, which would have a storage capacity of 250,000 m3 and would produce approximately 2.1 million tonnes per year of LNG.