The Petronas-led consortium has envisaged constructing the 1.6-kilometre-long suspension bridge to carry a pipeline beginning on Lelu Island and extending over the northwest flank of Flora Bank.Brent Jang/The Globe and Mail
Pacific NorthWest LNG is considering altering the trajectory of a planned suspension bridge and jetty in British Columbia in an effort to address the environmental concerns of the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation.
The Petronas-led consortium's proposal to export liquefied natural gas has been criticized by Lax Kw'alaams leaders, who are warning about the impact to fish habitat from building a B.C. LNG plant near Flora Bank – a sandy area that is visible at low tide.
AltaCorp Capital Inc. analyst Mark Westby, who co-wrote a new report on B.C. LNG, said on Monday that the challenge is how to redesign the suspension bridge and trestle-supported jetty to position them farther away from ecologically sensitive Flora Bank.
Flora Bank, which contains eelgrass that serves as habitat for juvenile salmon in the Skeena River estuary, is located next to the proposed $11.4-billion LNG terminal on Lelu Island in northwestern British Columbia.
The consortium, led by Malaysia's state-owned Petronas, has envisaged constructing the 1.6-kilometre-long suspension bridge to carry a pipeline beginning on Lelu Island and extending over the northwest flank of Flora Bank. That bridge would connect with a 1.1-kilometre jetty that is slated to stretch to a marine terminal for ocean-going LNG tankers.
"Engineering issues and shipping channels will dictate what is viable," AltaCorp said in its report, noting that the location of an "anchor block" is being scrutinized because that is the meeting point where the bridge would end and the jetty begin.
Flora Bank and Lelu Island are part of the traditional territory of the Lax Kw'alaams.
Spencer Sproule, Pacific NorthWest LNG's senior adviser of corporate affairs, said the consorti- um has been reviewing its engineering for the terminal and also the bridge and jetty that would lead to the berth for LNG carriers.
"Our current investigative works program is a continuation of two earlier phases of soil investigation from 2013 and 2014," Mr. Sproule said. "Significant consultation has taken place with local First Nations and stakeholders. Engineering for a project of this size is an iterative and methodical process."
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is expected to rule by early 2016 on whether to approve Pacific NorthWest LNG's project, to be situated on federal Crown property administered by the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
AltaCorp noted that the federal New Democratic Party has indicated its support for more extensive environmental assessments, so if the NDP emerges as the winner of the Oct. 19 election, that could further delay the project.
In its 97-page report, AltaCorp said that, of 20 B.C. LNG proposals so far, it sees four as having the best chance of coming to fruition. One is a small-scale joint venture called Douglas Channel LNG, backed by AltaGas Ltd. The remaining three are major proposals – Pacific NorthWest LNG; Royal Dutch Shell PLC-led LNG Canada; and WCC LNG, co-owned by Exxon Mobil Corp. and Imperial Oil Ltd.
Peters & Co. Ltd. cautioned last week that there could be delays and cancellations with B.C. LNG projects, but still believes the industry is viable. "Our view remains that LNG export is likely to be developed on the Canadian West Coast," Peters & Co. said in its report.
Pacific NorthWest LNG has been targeted by several Lax Kw'alaams hereditary chiefs, who helped set up an occupation camp on Lelu Island three weeks ago. Gitxsan hereditary chiefs issued a statement Monday to offer their support to their Lax Kw'alaams counterparts.
Joey Wesley, a spokesman for the Gitwilgyoots, one of nine allied tribes of the Lax Kw'alaams, said LNG plans have not been properly evaluated.
The Lax Kw'alaams, one of five Tsimshian First Nations consulted last year during the provincial environmental review, opposed the energy export proposal during voting earlier this year. Two groups, the Metlakatla and the Kitselas, signed impact benefit agreements with Pacific NorthWest LNG in December. Two others, the Kitsumkalum and Gitxaala, have not yet announced their decisions.
"It's important to take our time and hear from all interested parties as we move through the design phase of our proposed facility," Mr. Sproule said.
Brent Jang