LNG plant near Squamish clears first hurdle in environmental assesment

The Woodfibre LNG planted proposed for Squamishhascleared its first regulatory hurdle after being granted an environmental assessment certificate by the B.C. government.

The certificate includes 25 conditions meant to mitigate the negative impactsconstructionand operation of the plant will have on things like marine life and water quality.

Squamishmayor Patricia Heintzmanopposes theWoodfibre project andsays shehas questions about the certificate, including the conclusion the plant will generate $21-million per year in municipal taxes.

"Ouranalysis isn't anywhere close to that so I'm not sure how they're doing that math," Heintzman told CBC.

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"There is significant potential for tax revenue, but our estimates are in the $5-million to $7-million range so I'm curious how the government based their decision on $21-million," she said.

However, aspokesperson for Woodfibre LNG says the mayor may becomparing apples and oranges and thatthe estimated annual economic impact of $21 million is for the entire province, not just the district of Squamish.

The certificate trumpets other provincial and community benefits including:

• 100 full-time-equivalent positions during operations
• construction expenditures of approximately$342-million that would bespentinB.C.
• $80-million per year in provincial taxes
• $98-million per year in federaltaxes

Heintzman noted thatthere is strong opposition to Woodfibre LNG throughout Howe Sound communities.

"Everyone from West Vancouver to Bowen Island to Lions Bay and Gibsons," said Heintzman. "People see the marine environment in Howe Soundreturning. They're concerned about super tankers in a narrow fjord."

Whales, dolphins, salmon,herring and shell fish have slowly been repopulating Howe Sound since the closure of the Woodfibrepulp mill in 2006, and the upgrading of waste water treatment plants at the Port Mellon pulp mill and Britannia Beachmine site.

The certificate's reasons for decision notesthat the seawater cooling system proposed by Woodfibre LNG "has the potential to harm marine fish, particularly Pacific herring," but that "based on the available information, we understand that the effects to fish and fish habitat have been minimized to the extent practicable..."

The project still needs federal approval and aseparateenvironmental assessment certificate for a 52 kilometer FortisBCgas pipeline to power the plant.

Heintzman describes her community as 'pretty divided' over Woodfibre LNG.

"It's not a hugeplant so there's not a huge amount of jobs here inSquamish," she said.

However, WoodfibreLNGsays its project would create more than a hundred local jobs making it one ofthe largerprivate-sector employers in Squamish.