Environmental assessment certificate granted for Ksi Lisims LNG project

VICTORIA - A B.C. environmental assessment certificate has been issued for the Ksi Lisims LNG project, following a joint decision by provincial ministers.

Ksi Lisims is being developed in partnership between Nisga'a Nation, Rockies LNG Limited Partnership and Western LNG.

Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, made their decision after carefully considering the environmental assessment by B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

If all other required permits and authorizations are received, the Ksi Lisims LNG project is approved tobuildand operate two floating liquid natural gas structures at Pearse Island in northwestern B.C. It is expected to employ an average of up to 450 workers during construction and have a permanent workforce of up to 250 people.

The EAO's assessment began in 2021 and involved extensive consultation with technical experts, First Nations, provincial and federal agencies, local governments and the public.

The ministers imposed 23 legally enforceable conditions in the provincial certificate that Ksi Lisims LNG must follow over the lifespan of the project. Key requirements include:

• a greenhouse-gas emissions plan requiring Ksi Lisims to meet the Province's net-zero policy and update it every five years;
• plans to manage impacts related to project construction, wildlife and wildlife habitat, marine underwater noise and road transportation;
• marine transportation communication reporting with First Nations on activities that may affect marine use and a reporting mechanism for First Nations and other mariners to report concerns;
• a health and medical-services plan to reduce pressures from outside workers on local health services;
• a gender and cultural safety plan that outlines gender-based violence prevention and response programs that apply to all workers;
• a socioeconomic management plan that prioritizes regional and Indigenous hiring, apprenticeships and procurement, and helps limit effects on local housing, infrastructure and services;
• connecting to the BC Hydro power grid to provide sufficient electrical capacity for operations once BC Hydro is able to provide service; and
• a community feedback process that provides residents of the area with a way to have concerns and complaints about the project addressed.

The EAO conducted the assessment on behalf of both the provincial and federal governments, and also recommended a number of federal mitigation measures. One assessment carried out by the EAO is used for decisions by both levels of government, eliminating the duplication of two assessments for a single project.

The ministers wrote to the federal ministers responsible for the environment, defence, transport and fisheries, urging them to address concerns expressed by First Nations related to marine shipping in making the federal decision. The provincial ministers strongly encouraged the federal decision-maker to impose the EAO-recommended mitigation measures if the project receives federal approval. A federal decision is expected imminently.

The EAO consulted with 10 First Nations at varying levels. Participating Indigenous Nations were Gitga'at, Gitxaala, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla, which had the opportunity to provide consent or lack of consent for the project. Gitga'at and Kitselas issued notices of consent for the project and the EAO participated in dispute resolution with Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla, which did not consent. Kitsumkalum did not consent. Gitxalaa did not provide a notice regarding consent. Throughout the assessment, the EAO also consulted with Nisga'a Lisims Government as a treaty partner, and Haida Nation and Gitanyow and Gitxsan hereditary chiefs.

In making their decision, the ministers acknowledged that while not all First Nations' concerns have been resolved, they are satisfied that the conditions and requirements included as part of the environmental assessment certificate reasonably avoid, minimize and accommodate the potential adverse effects on First Nations and their interests.

The 30-day decision period was extended by nine days to provide additional time for the ministers to consider materials, including submissions from First Nations.

Every project that undergoes an environmental assessment is assessed thoroughly on the specific and individual aspects of that particular project, including its potential environmental, economic, social, cultural and health effects, and impacts on First Nations and their rights.

Required management plans approved by the EAO, provincial permits and federal authorizations must be in place for construction of a certified project to proceed. EAO compliance and enforcement officers monitor projects as they are developed to make sure they meet all requirements throughout construction and operation.

Learn More:

To see the ministers' reasons for their decision: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/68c87b16c066630022c9785a/download/KL_Reasons_for_Decision.pdf

Documentation ministers considered in making their decision: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/60edc23bc69c5e0023a12539/documents?keywords=KsiLisims_DM&sortBy=-score&currentPage=1

For more information about the environmental assessment process, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/environmental-assessments