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B.C. First Nations banding together Establish environmental authority to assess impact of range of industrial projects, led by LNG; industry alliance shares concerns GARY PARK For Petroleum News
Five First Nations in northwestern British Columbia have formed an authority to assess the environmental impact of industrial projects - led by several LNG ventures - in their area.
Leaders of the Tsimshian Environmental Stewardship Authority are generally supportive of the push for B.C. LNG exports, said Clarence Innis, chief of the Gitxaala First Nation.
He said having aboriginal communities work together is “at the core of our Tsimshian culture” and will enable them to “protect our most important resource” - our environment.”
Joe Bevan, chief of the Kitselas, said the five First Nations “thought it would be really great to come out with a similar voice - and it would be very strong.”
The five leaders said in a letter to their members, the British Columbia government and the industry that they looked forward to engaging with the governments of British Columbia and Canada and project proponents “to work together to find a path forward that protects the environment legacy with which we are entrusted.”
“Our nations agree that resource development can only take place when the environment and our communities are protected,” the letter said.
“While the responsibility to evaluate and manage the impacts of development remains with each First Nation, the (TESA) will provide a venue for the nations to come together to address common environmental stewardship issues.”
Impact not clear Whether the new initiative will speed regulatory reviews or add a new layer to a complex process is not yet clear.
But the industry’s British Columbia LNG Alliance, representing seven projects, indicated it was willing to give the benefit of the doubt to TESA, “shares the same view (as First Nations) and looks forward to continuing dialogue with all Tsimshian First Nations regarding environmental stewardship and how best to incorporate First Nations interests into the existing environmental assessment framework and processes,” said Alliance President David Keane.
TESA said it will provide expert advice on baseline scientific studies that evaluate the current state of the environment and environmental monitoring programs and provide information to community members on the potential effects of projects.
TESA said it will also help determine how to address environmental effects and strengthen oversight in federal and provincial environmental reviews.
Bevan said the TESA member nations will pool their resources, including technical staff, to support the authority, while expecting governments and project developers to provide funding through project agreements.
Some have signed agreements The Kitselas and Metlakatla, both members of the TESA, signed impact agreements last year with Pacific NorthWest LNG, led by Malaysia’s Petronas, but the Kitsumkalum and Gitxaala have yet to say whether they endorse the project, although the Gitxaala are edging closer to joining the agreement, Innis said.
The Gitga’at First Nation, making up the fifth current member of the TESA, said earlier in July that it wants a judicial review of the British Columbia government’s consultation process for Pacific NorthWest.
The traditional areas of TESA nations encompass the Skeena River, including the Prince Rupert area and the mouth of the Douglas Channel - both vital entry and exit points for natural gas to fuel liquefaction facilities and LNG tankers.
Also on the proposal list for TESA oversight are LNG associated pipelines, geothermal energy, industrial development parks, a bio-coal plant, several run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects, expansion of a container terminal and a potash terminal.
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