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Woodfibre-LNG pipeline presentation for SLRD

FortisBC seeks to move natural gas to proposed Howe Sound plant for exportation
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Two FortisBC representatives presented a report to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) on a proposed pipeline that would take natural gas from northern British Columbia to a proposed terminal at Woodfibre in the District of Squamish.

The presentation, which gave an indication of infrastructure needs for the terminal, was made to the SLRD board at its monthly meeting on Aug. 26.

Art Kanzaki, the project's manager, and Carol Greaves, FortisBC's community relations manager, told directors about the Eagle Mountain — Woodfibre Natural Gas Pipeline Project, an upgrading and expansion of an existing pipeline that runs from Coquitlam, through Squamish, to the Woodfibre site on the western shore of Howe Sound.

They said that Malaysian-owned company, Pacific Energy Corp., approached FortisBC in 2012 to evaluate providing a liquid natural gas service to transport the gas for export via their pipeline system, much of which already exists. Upon initial investigations, FortisBC is proposing a 20-inch natural gas pipeline to run alongside their current 12- and 10-inch pipeline (varying in size in different locations).

Pacific Energy Corp. bought the former pulp mill site, vacant since 2006, last year.

The company also wants to build approximately 50km of new pipeline to run just beyond the Coquitlam watershed, ending at the Woodfibre site.

As well, a compressor station would have to be built in Squamish and existing compressor stations in Coquitlam and Port Mellon would be expanded. These stations provide the pressure in the pipeline to maintain the flow of natural gas.

The current Squamish site for the compressor station, in the northern end of the industrial park, is not thought to be ideal and another location may be selected.

Kanzaki said they would now begin consulting local and provincial governments and local First Nations, the general public and private landowners near the project. The economic feasibility of the pipelines is also to be explored and the environmental assessment process initiated.

The pipeline will be a District of Squamish issue rather than required SLRD involvement.

Woodfibre Natural Gas Limited (WNGL) applied for an export application with the National Energy Board at the end of July. The company wants to process and export about 2.1 million tonnes of liquefied fuel a year from the former pulp mill site.

The applicant told Pique that the export application process typically takes four to six months.

— With files from John French

Blackcomb Snowmobiles Dog Sledding TUP

Blackcomb Snowmobiles Dog Sledding gained a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) from the SLRD to build onsite kennelling at its Callaghan Valley location. The TUP runs until Aug. 26, 2016.

In response to questions, the owners explained that the dogs would now be housed onsite rather than taken to the location each day by truck. The trail used each winter is a dead-end road with no activity at that time of year.

In an answer to questions about the possibility of these animals needing rehoming should the company fail, like recent examples that led to dozens of dogs being given to the Whistler Animals Galore shelter, the owners said that two per cent of ongoing sales were being set aside for emergencies or rehousing, and that a lifecycle plan tailored for each dog had been created.

Culliton Creek IPP gets TUP

The SLRD board has approved Temporary Use Permit No. 28 to the Culliton Creek Power Ltd. Partnership for laydown, spoil sites, storage and temporary buildings attached to the Culliton Creek IPP near the Big Orange Bridge on Highway 99 north of Squamish. The TUP runs until Aug. 26, 2016.