Last Friday morning, Woodfibre LNG’s vice-president of corporate affairs, Byng Giraud announced that Pacific Oil & Gas Limited (Woodfibre’s parent company) has authorized the funds necessary for the project and it is “a go.” Bowen Island-based activist Anton Van Walraven says that he is not particularly concerned.
“I am surprised by this announcement, because they have to show that the new cooling system that they’ve agreed has to go through the environmental assesment process, and they have not completed their work with the Squamish Nation,” says Van Walraven. “The timing of the announcement is awkward, and strategically stupid. I think it probably has something to do with Christie Clarke needing something to announce at the BC Liberal convention.”
Woodfibre LNG is a legally bound to fulfill 25 conditions laid out by the Squamish Nation’s independent environmental assessment.
““Put simply, our Woodfibre LNG work simply isn’t finished, it’s too early to celebrate,” said Chief Ian Campbell in an emailed statement to the Squamish Chief.
Van Walraven says Concerned Citizens of Bowen and My Sea-to-Sky have sent a letter to the provincial environmental assessment office reminding them that Woodfibre’s environmental certificate needs amending.
He adds that results from a Transport Canada tanker safety review that Woodfibre is also still in the works.
