OTTAWA, December 31, 2012 –As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has determined that a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project in British Columbia (B.C.). The Agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment.
The public can review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS.
Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. is proposing the construction and operation of an approximately 650 km pipeline to deliver natural gas from the area near the community of Groundbirch (40 km west of Dawson Creek, B.C.) to a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Kitimat, B.C.
Written comments must be submitted by January 30, 2013 to:
Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410 - 701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver BC V7Y 1C6
Telephone: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
CoastalGasLink@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency's website at (registry reference number 80020). All comments received will be considered public.
Consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012, this is the second of four opportunities for Canadians to comment on this project. Following this comment period, the Agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent. An application period for participant funding and a future public comment period related to the EIS will be announced later.
Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and increased fines.
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.
-30-
For more information, media may contact:
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Céline Legault
Communications Advisor
Tel.: 613-957-0278
