Squamish's municipal council expressed “no objection” to Garibaldi at Squamish’s request to extend its deadline to meet conditions set by the provincial Environmental Assessment Office, or EAO.
However, councillors on Dec. 18, at Squamish's last council session of 2018, were also careful to say this was not an endorsement either.
These sentiments were expressed after the province asked the District for feedback on the matter.
Garibaldi at Squamish asked the provincial EAO to extend its January 2019 deadline to meet several stipulations set by the office.
The company said it’s taking longer than expected to meet those conditions.
As is customary, the province then asked for opinions of those who would be affected by the matter. The District of Squamish is among them.
Months ago, Garibaldi at Squamish wrote a letter to the EAO saying it needed more time to:
*create a groundwater research and monitoring plan;
*study the effects of the project on fish and fish habitat in side channels;
*assess alternative sites for the main pumping well;
*report on a secondary source of water in case of emergencies;
*develop an aquatic environment effects monitoring plan
*complete a dam failure consequence study;
*finish weather monitoring initiatives.
After receiving the letter, the EAO also approached the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District for its views on the matter. The SLRD board opined that it was against allowing a timeline extension.
The province has yet to make a decision on the matter, but one is expected before the January deadline.
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