Let's turn the Northwest into a major carbon fuel depot for the Pacific Rim
The next big fossil fuel fight in Cascadia may center on a proposed complex of LNG export plants and gas pipelines in northern Washington and southern British Columbia that almost no one is talking about. The plans could run afoul of tribal treaty rights, put the Salish Sea at risk of pipeline leaks, and turn the Northwest into a major carbon fuel depot for the Pacific Rim. Yet the project has received scant attention from the media or other leaders. So as a guide for the uninitiated, here are the basics.
The who, what, and where
A company called Steelhead LNG is proposing to build two natural gas liquefaction and export facilities on Vancouver Island. The Malahat LNG Project, a facility built on a floating platform, with a capacity to export six million metric tons per year, would be located near Mill Bay on the island’s east coast. Vessels arriving and departing every three to five days would transit the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait, near the San Juan Islands. On the west coast, Steelhead is exploring a second facility with a capacity of 24 million metric tons per year at Sarita Bay, in the vicinity of Port Alberni that, if built, would be nearly 3 times larger than the largest LNG plant in existence.
http://www.sightline.org/2016/06/08/fracked-gas-at-cherry-point-and-vancouver-island-an-introduction/?utm_source=Sightline%20Institute&utm_medium=web-email&utm_campaign=Sightline%20News%20Selections
= new reply since forum marked as read
http://www.saanichnews.com/news/370977081.html
Tsartlip Elder Tom Sampson, left, and Chief Don Tom were joined by the Chiefs of the Pauquachin and Tsawout First Nations on Tuesday morning to announce their opposition to the proposed Malahat LNG terminal on Saanich Inlet. Tsartlip also has the support of the Tseycum Nation.— image credit: Steven Heywood/News staff
First Nations Chiefs on the east side of the Saanich Inlet are opposing the proposed Malahat LNG project and are calling on their neighbours to stand with them.
The Chiefs of the Tsawout, Pauquachin, Tseycum and Tsartlip First Nations stood at an overlook at the Tsawout community Tuesday morning. With the site of the proposed floating liquified natural gas terminal in the background, the Chiefs decried what they called a lack of consultation by the proponent, Steelhead LNG, and the granting in October last year of an export license to the company by the National Energy Board.
Steelhead LNG has proposed an LNG terminal and liquefaction plant on the west side of the inlet at Bamberton, as well as an underwater gas pipeline. The company had announced an agreement with the Malahat First Nation in August 2015.
Tsawout Chief Don Tom said there are no conditions under which his community would support the project, as it directly impacts on their fishing and hunting rights and spiritual connection to the inlet.
“No,” he said, “this would not benefit us in any way and undo all of the rehabilitation work that has gone on in the Sannich Inlet.”
The Saanich or W̱SÁNEĆ are indigenous nations from the north coast of the Gulf and San Juan Islands, southern Vancouver Island and the southern edge of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia.