The proposed relocation of the compressor station from Mount Mulligan to the Woodfibre LNG site will have a positive impact, the district says.
In a memo to council, senior district official Gary Buxton, says the compressor station would be more distant from any residential areas.
“The compressor station would be more distant from any residential area, and could only be accessed by private emergency resources in case of an emergency,” he says.
The district has no ability to transport emergency resources by water to the site, he adds.
FortisBC says the compressor station at the WLNG would be more than seven kilometres away from the nearest residences.
“The Woodfibre LNG property is already an industrial site. Constructing the compressor station at this location would result in fewer disturbances to the surroundings than at a previously disturbed site like Mount Mulligan,” the company said.
FortisBC says compressor stations are strategically placed along a pipeline route to ensure that natural gas flowing through a pipeline remains constantly pressurized.
“FortisBC has completed more detailed hydraulic modelling and has determined that the Woodfibre area is a suitable distance between other compressor stations in the system to provide reliable service,” the company said.
The Fortis Amendment was made early in 2020 to the EAO, but significantly delayed due to the pandemic.
A decision on the amendments is anticipated in April 2021.
Meanwhile, Woodfibre LNG has told the district it plans to start construction in the third quarter of 2021.
According to the district memo, thousands of people will work on the site for over four years, although their arrival will be gradual.
“At peak construction, over 600 workers will be on the site,” the memo says.
