Details of the 25 conditions that must be met in order for Squamish Nation to support the Woodfibre LNG proposal have been leaked to The Squamish Chief.
“Bottom line. If our lands and waters are not protected, liquefied natural gas plants or other industrial operations simply won’t get built. Period,” hereditary Chief Ian Campbell said in the report, which was leaked on Tuesday.
Five of the Nation’s conditions were released June 27.
The additional 20 revealed in the leaked report include, among others:
• No fueling of LNG tankers in Squamish territory.
• No barges in the Wildlife Management Area.
• Routing the pipeline to avoid impact on cultural sites: Monmouth Creek, Stawamus Creek and Indian River. For certainty, in order to minimize disturbance to the cultural sites, FortisBC must come to agreement with the Squamish Nation on a reasonable buffer area around each of these cultural sites.
• Not authorizing the transportation of oil through the FortisBC pipeline.
• Government-to-government discussions regarding a marine use planning agreement to address cumulative impacts of industry in the Howe Sound area.
• Working with the Squamish Nation to develop on Emergency Response Plan for the Squamish Valley area.
• Making certain mitigation measures proposed in its Environmental Assessment Application that are considered voluntary measures legally binding under a Squamish Nation Environmental Certificate.
• No future expansion of the Woodfibre LNG plant or pipeline without Squamish Nation approval.
If the first 24 conditions are met, the 25th condition is: entering into an economic benefits agreement with the Nation that will be reflective of the Squamish Nation’s aboriginal rights and title interests.
Two conditions are centered on restoring Mill Creek area to a “green zone” and formal recognition that the LNG project is located on the former village of Swiy’a’at within the zone and locating other water sources during critical stream flow periods, if necessary.
Other conditions included funding a Squamish Nation marine use plan to help address cumulative impacts of industrial projects on the marine environment in Howe Sound and funding and partnering with Squamish Nation to co-manage environmental management programs
On June 27 the Nation released its top five conditions:
• Insurance coverage or a bond to cover risks of personal loss and injury costs for Squamish Nation members.
• More information on the Woodfibre LNG seawater cooling discharge system.
• The FortisBC pipeline avoiding the Skwelwil’em Wildlife Management Area.
• The FortisBC compressor station being relocated to a location that poses no risk to Squamish members.
• Access for Nation members through the Controlled Access Zone of the project.
Days after the Squamish Nation laid out its top five conditions, Woodfibre LNG was granted a temporary suspension of its Environmental Assessment Review Period. A company spokesperson said at the time the company needed time to comprehend and work with the Squamish Nation conditions.
The decision of Squamish Nation chiefs and council is expected by the end of July.
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