OTTAWA, August 1, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, today announced that the proposed Kitimat Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The Minister has referred the project back to the responsible authorities, Transport Canada (TC), Environment Canada (EC) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for appropriate action.
The Minister based her environmental assessment decision on the following information:
the comprehensive study report, including conclusions and recommendations, submitted by the responsible authorities;
public comments received during the 30-day review period which ended on May 19, 2006 and TC’s, EC’s and INAC’s responses to the comments; and,
the implementation of mitigation measures and a follow-up program.
A copy of the Minister’s decision statement can be found on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry using reference number 05-03-10430.
The Minister recommends that the responsible authorities ensure the implementation of the mitigation measures described in the comprehensive study report. The Minister also recommends that the responsible authorities implement the follow-up program described in the report, in order to determine the effectiveness of the measures taken to mitigate any adverse environmental effects, and to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment of the project.
Kitimat LNG Inc. is proposing to construct and operate a LNG import, regasification and pipeline send-out terminal on a site along Douglas Channel, approximately 14 km south of Kitimat. The terminal would include marine off-loading, LNG storage, natural gas liquids recovery, regasification and pipeline send-out facilities.
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The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
Media may contact:
Gordon Harris, Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0825
gordon.harris@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
For more information about the environmental assessment process, please contact:
Paul Schafer, Project Analyst
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-948-1786
paul.schafer@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
