New Denver BC, Novmber 29 2012 – Action Alert! The federal government wants to know whether you think it should have an Environmental Assessment.

Usually Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) does not like to overload our e-mail contacts with requests for letters. But over the last few weeks, the provincial and federal governments have swamped us with opportunities for the public to comment on proposals that could have very serious environmental impacts.

Just as there were proposals for a rash of proposals for bitumen, natural gas, liquified natural gas pipelines and coastal tankers carrying these to China, the government decided to change the federal Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the Navigable Waters Protection Act. These are the very laws that are critical in regulating the environmental impacts of pipelines and tankers. 

Take the present case: Coastal GasLink Pipeline project, a 650 kilometre pipeline for natural gas running 650 kilometres from around Dawson to Kitimat BC on the coast, where it will be turned into liquified natural gas (LNG) for export to China and other countries. According to an article in the Vancouver Sun (November 26) by columnist Larry Pynn, this proposed natural gas pipeline would cross about 320 watercourses in the Peace, Skeena, Fraser and Kitimat Rivers.  Because the pipeline will be buried, that will mean lots of ground disturbance and erosion in those watersheds. That would seem to be relevant to fish.  And because the tankers carrying this LNG to China will be plying the same coastal waters as tankers bearing tarsands bitumen, of course the Navigable Waters Protection Act would be important. You can read the Vancouver Sun article. 

It used to be that a federal Environmental Assessment would kick in for a project like this, because it was the law.  But after the changes to the law, the Vancouver Sun reported that it might not receive an environmental review at all. So now the government is inviting our participation and wants to know whether we think this project should have an environmental assessment.  

 At VWS we think the most people possible should use this opportunity, because this could possibly turn out to be the only public input this project will ever have before it goes ahead. It might also turn out to be a test case: if not enough people want an Environmental Assessment, future projects may not have to go through an assessment either. That being the case, there are a few other things you may wish to know. One is that natural gas pipes can leak methane, which can kill trees and cause explosions.  Another is that, although it's supposed to have less carbon than coal, some scientists say that it will not reduce carbon emissions enough to make a difference in climate change. In fact, there is still a question whether it reduces carbon emissions at all, especially because methane is a more potent source of carbon than coal.

One of the reasons for changing the Environmental Assessment Act was to speed up the approval process for projects. This may explain why the notices we are receiving for public comment opportunities provide only about three weeks to comment. Same thing with provincial comment processes too. And of course, it takes a while to find out about them and notify you.  So you only have until DECEMBER 3 to write your comment.  But it's easy and quick to do it by fax or email.  You'll find all the addresses you need below.

Anne Sherrod, Valhalla Wilderness Society

 Here is the Canada Environmenal Assessment Agency page for details on the EA:

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project

Northern British Columbia (BC)

Reference number: 80020
Federal Responsible Authority: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Proponent: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd.
Status: Project under consideration

Latest Update

November 13, 2012 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is determining whether an environmental assessment is required for the designated project. A public participation period is underway.

About the Proposal

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd.  is proposing the construction and operation of an approximately 650 km pipeline to deliver natural gas from the area near the community of Groundbirch (40 km west of Dawson Creek, B.C.) to a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Kitimat, B.C..

The project will initially have the capacity to flow approximately 1.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and could deliver up to approximately 5.0 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas after further expansion.

Documents

• For Public Participation (2)
  Contains all documents related to public participation opportunities
• News Releases (1)
  Contains all news releases related to this environmental assessment process.
• Additional Information (1)
  Contains additional records related to the project and the environmental assessment process.

List All Documents

Search Documents

 For questions or information, please contact:

Coastal Gas Link Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Vivian Au, Project Manager
410-701 Georgia Street West
Vancouver  BC  V7Y 1C6
Telephone: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
Email: CoastalGasLink@ceaa.acee-gc.ca

Public Notice

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project
Public Comments Invited

As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's responsible resource development initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency must determine whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project in British Columbia (B.C.). To assist it in making its decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment.

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. is proposing the construction and operation of an approximately 650-km pipeline to deliver natural gas from the area near the community of Groundbirch, B.C. (40 km west of Dawson Creek) to a proposed liquefied natural gas facility near Kitimat, B.C. The project will initially have the capacity to flow approximately 1.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and could deliver up to approximately 5.0 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas after further expansion.

Written comments must be submitted by December 3, 2012 to :

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410 – 701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver BC V7Y 1C6
Tel.: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
CoastalGaslink@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view a summary of the project description or for more information on the project and the environmental assessment process, visit the Agency’s website (registry reference number 80020). All comments received will be considered public.

The Agency will post a decision stating whether a federal environmental assessment is required on its website.

If it is determined that a federal environmental assessment is required, the public will have three more opportunities to comment on this project, consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012.

Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada’s strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and increased fines. To learn more about the Responsible Resource Development Initiative, please visit the website: http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/page/r2d-dr2.