Interested Squamish residents now have more time to study the proposed Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC projects, planned for Squamish.
Environmental groups had protested that there was insufficient time to review thousands of pages of detailed plans for both projects.
The provincial Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) extended the public comment period Monday from 45 days to 60 days for both projects. This means the public has until March 23 for Woodfibre LNG and until March 27 for FortisBC to tell the EAO what it thinks of the proposed projects.
The extension is in consideration of the high level of public interest in the proposed projects, according to a letter to FortisBC published on the EAO website from Mike Shepard, EAO’s project assessment manager.
FortisBC spokesperson Trevor Boudreau told The Squamish Chief that the company had heard from several people after recent open houses on the project that there was not enough time to consider all the documents related to the pipeline and the proposed Woodfibre LNG project, which is also currently in a public EAO comment period.
“From our perspective, we think this is a good thing for people who want to engage in the EAO process,” Boudreau said.
Woodfibre LNG representatives echoed Boudreau’s sentiments.
“At Woodfibre LNG Limited, we are committed to building a project that is right for Squamish and right for B.C., and this includes listening to the community and acting on their priorities,” said Byng Giraud, Woodfibre’s vice-president of corporate affairs.
Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC have a community office on Cleveland Avenue in Squamish where all of the information presented at the open houses is on display and where staff is available to answer any questions. The office is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
Comments can be submitted through the Environmental Assessment Office website at www.eao.gov.bc.ca, faxed to 250-387-0230 or mailed to Michael Shepard, Environmental Assessment Office, PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC V8W 9V1.
