Canada’s Coastal GasLink Working to Regain Compliance

Coastal GasLink (CGL), which is building the pipeline to deliver natural gas to LNG Canada’s liquefaction project on BC’s west coast, said July 7 it is working to regain compliance with a condition of its environmental approval requiring pre-construction surveys of protected wetlands along the pipeline right-of-way.

During route surveys conducted earlier this spring, as CGL ramped up construction work along the 760-km right-of-way, BC’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) found that the company was not in compliance with Section 6 of its environmental assessment certificate. Section 6 requires the development and implementation of a wetlands management plan, including mitigation measures to avoid or reduced adverse effects to wetlands.

The EAO subsequently ordered CGL to immediately cease construction within 30 m of wetlands identified in the compliance reports and to not resume construction until the appropriate surveys had been conducted to the satisfaction of the EAO.

In an email to NGW, CGL said it took its environmental responsibilities “extremely seriously” and was “immediately complying” with the EAO’s orders.

“Environmental assessment work was conducted by Coastal GasLink contractors on all wetlands identified in this order prior to construction or disturbance, but how and when the assessment was done did not follow our wetland management plan’s specific requirements,” the company said. “Coastal GasLink is completing additional assessment in accordance with our wetland management plan to return to compliance with the Environmental Assessment Office.”

Construction schedules are not expected to be affected, CGL said.