One of the closest LNG pipeline projects to pass near Prince George has taken the next step in the environmental assessment process, with public consultation sessions planned over the next few weeks.
The Coastal GasLink project seeks to connect the gas fields of the northeast with the ports of the west coast. The proposed pipeline is about 650 kilometres long and would pass close to Prince George and through many of the neighbouring communities along Highway 16. The pipeline's overall investment estimate is about $4 billion.
Coastal GasLink made its official Environmental Assessment Certificate application at the end of January which was accepted by the provincial Environmental Assessment Office. The pipeline proposal is now in a 180-day public review period, which includes a 45-day window where the public can provide comments on the application. That window is open from March 21 to May 4.
A set of open house meetings have been announced for some of that public input to be gathered. The meetings scheduled so far include:
March 27 in Chetwynd at the Rec Centre.
April 1 in Fraser Lake at the recreation centre.
April 2 in Burns Lake at the heritage centre.
April 3 in Kitimat at the Riverlodge Rec Centre.
All meetings are set to happen from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The application is available for review on the EAO website (http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca) and hardcopies are also available at public libraries in the project area.
"Public comment is sought to ensure that all potential adverse effects - environmental, economic, social, heritage and health - are identified and considered as part of the assessment process," said a company spokesperson.
If all goes according to plan, the pipeline would begin in the town of Groundbirch located between Dawson Creek and Chetwynd. It would go south and west in a relatively direct line, crossing Highway 97 just north of McLeod Lake, then angle just north of Eskers Park. From there it would veer almost directly west going just north of Vanderhoof, along the north shore of Fraser Lake, south of Burns Lake and Houston, and on to Kitimat.
Meanwhile, Coastal GasLink will continue to do further studies on the proposed route.
"The project study corridor was established based on a preliminary assessment of terrain, environment, social aspects and constructability, and through engagement of landowners, aboriginal communities and the public," said a Coastal GasLink statement. "It is within this study corridor that we will now focus our extensive engineering and environmental programs including traditional ecological knowledge gathering and traditional land use studies. We will share information, gather input and incorporate feedback into our decision making and route refinement process. We will continue to engage with aboriginal communities, landowners and stakeholders through this process."
If approved, the pipeline portion of the project would employ 2,000 to 2,500 people at the peak of construction. It would take in natural gas from the Montney Basin primarily, but also the Horn River and Cordova Basins and perhaps other wells connected to TransCanada Pipelines' extensive network in northern B.C. and Alberta.
Coastal GasLink is a subsidiary of TransCanada Pipelines, with a regional headquarters in Prince George.
The gas would travel the pipeline to Kitimat where it would be processed by a proposed plant that would liquefy and load the gas onto ships. This proposed facility would be owned and operated by LNG Canada, a joint-venture company led by Shell Canada along with Korea Gas Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and PetroChina Company Ltd.
This marine terminal is undergoing its own environmental assessment process. Should it achieve all environmental standards and obtain all necessary licenses, the construction phase would employ about 5,500 people at its peak. When the plant is operational it would directly employ somewhere between 200 and 400 people according to LNG Canada.
The construction and operation of the pipeline would have its own construction workforce and ongoing operating crew, plus the gas field workers.
This is one of two LNG proposals for northern B.C. that use TransCanada Pipelines as the delivery company between the gas fields and the coast. The Petronas company has also contracted TransCanada to build and operate their proposed liquefied natural gas line between Hudson's Hope and Prince Rupert.
