News & Insights
Woodfibre LNG Submits Air Emissions Permit Application to BC Energy Regulator
Oct 29, 2026
Woodfibre LNG has submitted a permit application to the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) for a Waste Discharge Authorization for air emissions under British Columbia’s Environmental Management Act. The application is part of the regulatory process to prepare the Woodfibre LNG facility for commissioning, startup and future operations.
The application outlines the sources of air emissions from the facility, the measures in place to manage those emissions, and the results of air quality modelling completed to assess potential effects on the surrounding environment and communities.
Located approximately seven kilometres southwest of Squamish, Woodfibre LNG is designed to operate using electricity supplied by BC Hydro rather than natural gas to power its liquefaction process. While this design greatly reduces the facility’s reliance on gas combustion, some equipment and operational activities will produce air emissions.
These include the facility’s heat medium furnace, thermal oxidizer, flare systems, intermittent-use essential diesel generators, firewater pumps and various facility vents. The application considers emissions during operations as well as intermittent activities, including commissioning and startup.
Managing Air Emissions
Woodfibre LNG has incorporated a number of measures into the facility’s design to manage air emissions. These include low-emission burners on combustion equipment, flare technology designed to support efficient combustion across a range of operating conditions, and the use of low-sulphur diesel in generators when required and firewater pumps.
As part of the permit application, air dispersion modelling was completed to assess how emissions from the facility could affect air quality beyond the project site.
The modelling assessed several operating scenarios, including commissioning activities, normal facility operations and non-routine events. It also incorporated existing air quality conditions and emissions from other sources, including the FortisBC Squamish V2 Compressor Station and marine vessels associated with LNG export.
The modelling found that predicted concentrations of the assessed air contaminants in nearby communities remain well below applicable BC Air Quality Objectives across the scenarios evaluated. These objectives are specifically designed to protect human health and the environment.
Application Review and Public Comment
The BC Energy Regulator is the provincial regulator responsible for overseeing energy projects in British Columbia including reviewing and issuing Waste Discharge Authorisation permits.
An Environmental Protection Notice dated October 23, 2026, provides a summary of the application, including the proposed emission sources and their characteristics.
Members of the public who may be adversely affected by the proposed air emissions can submit written comments within 30 days of October 30, 2026.
Comments can be submitted to Woodfibre LNG at [email protected], with a copy to the BC Energy Regulator at [email protected].
The application and Environmental Protection Notice are available for public review:
A printed copy of the application is also available for review at the Squamish Public Library.
This permitting process is an important part of preparing the facility for safe operations while ensuring air emissions are assessed and managed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Join Us at Our Upcoming Community Open Houses
Woodfibre LNG is hosting open houses in Squamish and Britannia Beach this November and December to share information about two environmental permit applications related to air emissions and effluent (stormwater and drainage). Join us to learn more about the applications, ask questions and connect with our team.
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