Coastal GasLink recently announced that it has all the major permits it needs to start construction of its pipeline project.
Coastal GasLink Pipeline, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada, is proposing to develop a natural gas pipeline from near Dawson Creek to near Kitimat, passing south of Burns Lake.
The pipeline proponent received the last two of 10 permits needed from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission.
“This is a significant regulatory milestone for our project,” said Russ Girling, TransCanada’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Acquiring these 10 permits demonstrates our commitment in developing this project to the highest standards of environmental protection while delivering benefits to British Columbians and Canadians for decades to come.”
Coastal GasLink is now waiting for a final investment decision from Shell-led LNG Canada, delayed from late last year to late this year. Some permits for site-specific activities will also be needed after construction starts.
If LNG Canada approves the project, construction on the pipeline would begin in 2017.
According to Shela Shapiro, Coastal GasLink’s Communications Manager, 11 project agreements with First Nation groups have been announced.
In December of 2015, Coastal GasLink signed a long-term agreement with the Burns Lake Band.
In December of 2014, the province reached pipeline benefits agreements with Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Skin Tyee First Nation and Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band for the proposed Coastal GasLink project. The three bands will receive approximately $8.1 million out of this agreement.
Shapiro said more agreements have been signed but have not yet been announced. In fact, Coastal GasLink is currently working with 21 other First Nations groups on long-term benefit agreements.
“The agreements we have finalized so far are a reflection of the balance that can be achieved,” she said. “Aboriginal communities do not have to choose between the benefits of our project and maintaining a healthy environment and a strong traditional way of life.”
According to Shapiro, Coastal GasLink’s field work schedule will begin when weather and ground conditions are appropriate, sometime in the next few months. The 2016 field program will include archaeology, engineering investigations and pre-construction surveys that will mark wildlife features and site specific vegetation.
She added that of the of 350,000 hours of field work done on the project so far, over one-third comes from Aboriginal participation.
“The input they provided allowed us to incorporate traditional knowledge and traditional land use information into project planning and plan a route that considered this input,” she said.
Coastal GasLink says that the proposed pipeline will create 2000 to 2500 jobs during construction. The project is expected to generate over $20 million in annual property tax revenues.
However, the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) announced it was taking a careful approach to LNG development in the region last year. According to the RDBN, the pipeline construction process has the potential to “negatively impact local communities” and place a burden on local infrastructure and services.
The Coastal GasLink Pipeline project was originally announced on June 5, 2012. Coastal GasLink received its Environmental Assessment Certificate in October 2014.
– With files from Chris Gareau
