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Environmental assessment presented to province

The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) submitted its final report on Garibaldi at Squamish to the Environment and Tourism ministries on Tuesday.

The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) submitted its final report on Garibaldi at Squamish to the Environment and Tourism ministries on Tuesday. They now have 45 days to decide whether or not to give the project its environmental assessment certificate.

According to a draft version of the assessment office's report that was obtained by the Vancouver Sun, the EAO believes the resort's proponents have not addressed concerns over water supply, fish populations downstream of the project and public safety if one of the massive dams proposed to provide water to the development - including one dam 50 metres high - is breached.

At build-out the $2.9 billion resort would have 22,800 beds in 5,700 housing units, as well as 25 ski lifts and two golf courses. Almost all of the resort's water would be provided by Brohm Creek, which has been recognized as important to salmon and steelhead populations in the region.

In recent weeks the environmental assessment application has been opposed by the District of Squamish and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, chiefly over the water issue.

For their part, the proponents have said that they will provide more water study data after the EAO process is complete.