Deadline for public comments on Pacific NorthWest LNG tomorrow

OTTAWA, O.N. — With Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna likely to reference the public feedback to the draft report of Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, the push is on from both sides in the debate to weigh-in by tomorrow’s deadline on the proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG project.

The Minister is expected to announce her decision, with legally binding conditions, in less than two weeks, and a group of 130 scientists has signed a letter urging her to reject what they label “the scientifically flawed report.”

The CEAA has found that a liquefied natural gas export terminal near Prince Rupert could be built and operated without causing major ecological damage to the Flora Bank juvenile salmon habitat in the Skeena River estuary.

However, the proposed Lelu Island site for the $11.4-billion facility is located next to the Flora Bank and according to the scientist’s letter, “A worse location is unlikely to be found for PNW-LNG with regards to potential risks to fish and fisheries.”

Authored by biologist Jonathon Moore, the letter argues the regulatory agency disregarded science not financed by Pacific NorthWest LNG, and the draft report is, “A symbol of what is wrong with environmental decision making in Canada.”

Current plans call for the Petronas-led group to build a suspension bridge and pier that would carry LNG through a pipeline from Lelu Island to a loading dock for overseas tankers.

The CEAA report has already expressed greenhouse gas emission concern about the proposed project. McKenna announced back in January the Trudeau government would review how the $36 billion-project might affect greenhouse-gas emissions from the production and pipeline shipment of natural gas from this area to the west coast.

However, the agency has issued a statement defending its draft report released February 10 and in it claimed, “The government of Canada is committed to conducting high quality, thorough and science-based environmental assessments that are fair, transparent, and take into account the views of Canadians and indigenous peoples.”