FortisBC has announced the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) has signed off on proposed changes it requested for the Eagle Mountain pipeline project.
Back in November 2021, the company said that B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office, or EAO, had approved the changes to the project, which would build a pipeline from the area north of the Coquitlam watershed to the Woodfibre Liquefied Natural Gas facility.
Assent from the Nation is the final stamp of approval needed to make those changes a reality.
The Nation declined to comment for this story, but referred questions on the matter to FortisBC.
The utility had asked for four changes to its environmental assessment certificate back in 2020, which were granted by the EAO last year.
These changes allowed for an extension of pipeline length by three kilometres; expansion of the certified pipeline corridor by 200 metres for eight kilometres; relocation of the Squamish Compressor Station from Mt. Mulligan to the Woodfibre site, and increase capacity to the Eagle Mountain Compressor Station.
Now that the Nation has accepted these changes, FortisBC says it’s one step closer to making the Eagle Mountain — Woodfibre Gas Pipeline a reality.
“These changes reflect years of community engagement and detailed project planning,” said Darrin Marshall, Eagle Mountain project director at FortisBC, in a written statement. “It’s through listening and engagement that we’ve strengthened and refined this project, and we’re grateful for the input we’ve received.”
In the statement, Fortis added that it would like to thank the community for their engagement and that it looks forward to continuing engagement with Indigenous groups, stakeholders and local communities.
These approvals do not involve the proposal for a work camp. The application for that separate proposal is anticipated to happen in mid-2022.
There will be a FortisBC information session on workforce lodging in Squamish on April 27.
It will be an in-person meeting from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Executive Suites Hotel & Resort.
Registration information can be found here.
