Notice of Commencement of an Environmental Assessment and Substitution Approval

Ottawa — August 20, 2019 — The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has commenced an environmental assessment pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) for the Kitimat LNG Expansion Project proposed by KM LNG Operating General Partnership. For this project, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, P.C., M.P., Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has granted substitution of the environmental assessment to British Columbia (B.C.).

Having taken into consideration the request for substitution from B.C. and its approach to undertaking the substituted environmental assessment as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office on the Substitution of Environmental Assessments (2013), the Minister is satisfied that conditions identified below will be met and that the B.C. environmental assessment process is an appropriate substitute. The Minister approves the substitution request given that B.C. has committed to meeting the following conditions:

  • The designated project to be assessed is the expansion of a liquefied natural gas and marine export facility and any incidental physical activities proposed by KM LNG Operating General Partnership;
  • The substituted environmental assessment will include a consideration of the factors set out in subsection 19(1) of CEAA 2012;
  • B.C. will ensure that any relevant Orders or procedural letters under B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Act require the subsection 19(1) factors of CEAA 2012;
  • The public will be given an opportunity to participate in the environmental assessment;
  • The public will have access to records in relation to the environmental assessment to enable their meaningful participation;
  • At the end of the environmental assessment, B.C. will submit a report to the Agency that includes the findings and conclusions of the environmental assessment with respect to the factors as set out in subsection 19(1) of CEAA 2012; and
  • The report will be made available to the public.

The Minister established the following additional conditions for the Project:

  • B.C. will include an assessment of the potential environmental effects of marine shipping activities associated with the Project, including potential effects of malfunctions or accidents and any potential cumulative environmental effects, the significance of those effects, suggested mitigation measures and requirements of any follow-up program that may be warranted;
  • B.C. will involve expert federal authorities in the B.C. environmental assessment process;
  • B.C. will provide an Assessment Report to the Agency within a time frame to enable the Minister to make decisions under subsection 52(1) of CEAA 2012 within the time limits set out in CEAA 2012;
  • B.C. will conduct procedural aspects of Indigenous consultation in accordance with the process set out in the Memorandum of Understanding; and
  • B.C. will make available to Indigenous groups funding provided by the Agency to support Indigenous consultation during the substituted environmental assessment.

For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact:

Kitimat LNG Expansion Project
B.C. Environmental Assessment Office
Nathan Braun, Executive Project Director
P.O. Box 9426 Station Provincial Government
Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9V1
Office: 778-698-9280
Fax: 250-356-6448
E-mail: Nathan.Braun@gov.bc.ca

Document Reference Number: 7

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