Squamish Nation comments on provincial government's EA aproval of Woodfibre LNG proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCT. 28, 2015

SQUAMISH NATION COMMENTS ON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT'S EA APPROVAL OF WOODFIBRE LNG PROPOSAL

NORTH VANCOUVER — After careful review of provincial government decision Monday to issue an environmental assessment certificate for Woodfibre LNG’s proposed $1.6-billion gas export facility, the Squamish Nation (SN) today says it is looking forward to further discussions with the provincial government — on a government-to-government basis.

SN spokesperson Chief Ian Campbell points out:

-       Many SN conditions are different than those set out in the provincial certificate and the Nation’s conditions address them specifically.

-       Through the SN EA agreement, the Nation is able to hold the proponent accountable.

“Although the province has considered our conditions for WFLNG, it has not yet come to agreement with the Nation on the conditions the province is responsible for. This is a condition of the WFLNG approval," Chief Campbell says.

"It is critical to note also that the provincial EA process did not assess the impacts of the project on SN’s aboriginal rights and title – this was done under our independent environmental assessment process (Squamish Process). The province still has to consult with, and accommodate, the Nation with regard to its rights and title," Chief Campbell says. 

According to Chief Campbell, under the Nation’s EA agreement, SN has significant decision making abilities such as the choice of cooling technology, approval of management plans, and enforcing compliance through SN monitoring of mitigation measures.

SN's independent environmental assessment process was the first ever conducted by a B.C. First Nation.

-end-

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Alex Rose

604-367-8048

garose1805@gmail.com