The letter, “Islanders bring MP up to date with safety information,” August 4, 2016, contains false information that needs to be addressed.
The Woodfibre LNG Project has been awarded three environmental approvals – federal (including the Liberal government’s 5 principles of the new interim environmental assessment process), provincial and the Squamish Nation environmental process.These processes involved a significant amount of data collection and analysis by qualified experts on behalf of Woodfibre LNG Limited; the data and findings were reviewed and analyzed by independent experts on behalf of the public as part of these science-based reviews; and, the data and findings were made public. To suggest these processes are not rigorous, scientific and transparent is false. Woodfibre LNG Limited is committed to transparency.
One only has to visit the Woodfibre LNG Community Office, woodfibrelng.ca, our Facebook page or YouTube channel to see how transparent we are about herring spawn surveys. The data collected by biologists will help guide additional studies, plans and monitoring programs that Woodfibre LNG Limited will be developing before the start of construction.
If we use seawater cooling to remove heat from our facility, it will comply with applicable legislation and guidelines, including the Fisheries Act. I said “if,” because we are taking a second look at our cooling technology as part of the Squamish Nation Process, as the Squamish Nation has a final say on which cooling technology we’ll use. Suggesting there is a lack of regulation and safety standards for shipping is also false. Woodfibre LNG Limited will comply with (but not limited to): Canadian Shipping Act, Marine Liability Act, Marine Transportation Security Act, Coasting Trade Act, Pilotage Act, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, and the International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code). In terms of best management practices, Woodfibre LNG Limited is a member of the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO), and has incorporated SIGTTO's LNG Ports and Risk Reduction Options in its terminal and shipping design. In addition, we are participating in Transport Canada’s voluntary TERMPOL Review Process. The recommendations of the TERMPOL Review Committee are made public, and Woodfibre LNG is committed to incorporating the review panel’s recommendations into the Woodfibre LNG Project. Have a question for Woodfibre LNG? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-888-801-7929 or askwoodfibrelng.ca.
Warm regards,
Jennifer Siddon
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Woodfibre LNG Limited
