DOCSLIB.ORG

RISK ANALYSIS of BRITISH COLUMBIA NATURAL GAS PROJECTS: ENVIRONMENTAL and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES Ii Canadian Energy Research Institute

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
RISK ANALYSIS of BRITISH COLUMBIA NATURAL GAS PROJECTS: ENVIRONMENTAL and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES Ii Canadian Energy Research Institute Study No. 161 November 2016 CANADIAN RISK ANALYSIS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NATURAL ENERGY GAS PROJECTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES Canadian Energy Research Institute | Relevant • Independent • Objective RISK ANALYSIS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NATURAL GAS PROJECTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES ii Canadian Energy Research Institute Risk Analysis of British Columbia Natural Gas Projects: Environmental and Indigenous Peoples Issues Authors: Anna Vypovska Laura Johnson ISBN 1-927037-45-4 Copyright © Canadian Energy Research Institute, 2016 Sections of this study may be reproduced in magazines and newspapers with acknowledgement to the Canadian Energy Research Institute November 2016 Printed in Canada Front photo’s courtesy of istockphoto.com Acknowledgements: The authors of this report would like to extend their thanks and sincere gratitude to all CERI staff involved in the production and editing of the material, including but not limited to Allan Fogwill, Dinara Millington and Megan Murphy. The authors would also like to personally thank Miles Scott-Brown of Integrated Environments Ltd. and Dr. Stella Swanson of Swanson Environmental Strategies for providing helpful insights for this study. ABOUT THE CANADIAN ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE The Canadian Energy Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit research establishment created through a partnership of industry, academia, and government in 1975. Our mission is to provide relevant, independent, objective economic research in energy and environmental issues to benefit business, government, academia and the public. We strive to build bridges between scholarship and policy, combining the insights of scientific research, economic analysis, and practical experience. For more information about CERI, visit www.ceri.ca CANADIAN ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE 150, 3512 – 33 Street NW Calgary, Alberta T2L 2A6 Email: info@ceri.ca Phone: 403-282-1231 November 2016 Risk Analysis of British Columbia Natural Gas Projects: iii Environmental and Indigenous Peoples Issues Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... vii ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS ................................................................................. ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ......................................................... 1 History of Natural Gas Development in British Columbia ................................................. 1 Regulatory Requirements to the Environmental Assessment Process for Natural Gas and LNG Projects in British Columbia ............................................................ 4 Provincial Environmental Assessment Process............................................................... 5 Federal Environmental Assessment Process .................................................................. 7 Research Objectives and Methodology ............................................................................. 10 Baseline Inventory of Environmental Assessment Applications for Major Natural Gas and LNG Projects in British Columbia ............................................................ 10 CHAPTER 2 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL GAS AND LNG DEVELOPMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ................................................ 25 The Practice of Environmental Assessment ...................................................................... 25 Potential Adverse Effects on the Environment Identified from Natural Gas and LNG Projects ....................................................................................................................... 30 Potential Cumulative Effects from Natural Gas and LNG Development ........................... 33 Significant Residual and Cumulative Adverse Effects on the Environmental Valued Components ........................................................................................................... 35 Increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions .......................................................................... 35 Significant Adverse Effects on Terrestrial Wildlife ......................................................... 38 Significant Adverse Effects on Marine Mammals ........................................................... 43 Accidents and Malfunctions .............................................................................................. 44 Potential Accidents and Malfunctions ............................................................................ 44 Natural Gas Pipeline Incidents in British Columbia ........................................................ 46 CHAPTER 3 MAJOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES INFLUENCING NATURAL GAS AND LNG DEVELOPMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ................................................ 51 Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia ............................................................................ 51 Canadian Aboriginal Law .................................................................................................... 56 Royal Proclamation (1763) .............................................................................................. 56 Section 35 of the Constitution Act .................................................................................. 56 History of Treaties in British Columbia ........................................................................... 56 Indigenous Peoples Rights and Legal Issues ................................................................... 59 Principles Articulated by the Supreme Court of Canada ................................................ 62 The Crown’s Duty to Consult with Indigenous Peoples within the Environmental Assessment Process .................................................................................. 63 November 2016 iv Canadian Energy Research Institute Potential Impacts on Indigenous Peoples Interests Identified in the Environmental Assessment Process .................................................................................. 64 Potential Adverse Effects on Aboriginal Interests .......................................................... 64 Potential Cumulative Impacts on Aboriginal Interests ................................................... 66 Significance of Potential Impacts to Aboriginal Interests ............................................... 67 Aboriginal Consultation and Engagement Issues ........................................................... 68 CHAPTER 4 KEY APPROACHES TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES IDENTIFIED ON NATURAL GAS AND LNG PROJECTS .......................... 71 Mitigation Measures to Avoid or Reduce Potential Adverse Effects ................................ 71 Examples of Mitigation in Legally Binding Conditions of Environmental Assessment Certificates ..................................................................................................... 72 Measures to Mitigate the Increase of GHG Emissions from the Projects ...................... 75 Measures to Mitigate the Adverse Impacts of the Projects on Caribou and Caribou Habitat ............................................................................................................... 75 Measures to Mitigate the Cumulative Adverse Impacts of the Projects on Grizzly Bear ..................................................................................................................... 76 Measures to Mitigate the Adverse Impacts of the Projects on Marine Mammals ........ 76 Environmental Management Plans and Follow-up Programs ........................................... 76 Environmental Management Plans ................................................................................ 77 Follow-up Monitoring Programs ..................................................................................... 77 Accidents and Malfunctions Prevention ............................................................................ 78 Examples of Key Strategies and Progressive Programs Proposed by the Province........... 79 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policies ................................................................................ 79 Caribou Stewardship Strategies ...................................................................................... 79 Prince Rupert Port Authority Marine Mammal Management Plan ............................... 80 Cumulative Effects Management Programs ................................................................... 80 Indigenous Peoples: Consultation and Engagement ........................................................ 81 Agreements with Indigenous Peoples ............................................................................... 85 LNG Environmental Stewardship Initiative ..................................................................... 85 Capacity Building Initiatives ............................................................................................ 86 Economic Benefit Agreements ....................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 93 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..............................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Annual Information Form
    TC Energy Corporation 2019 Annual information form February 12, 2020 TED Contents PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION . 2 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION . 2 TC ENERGY CORPORATION . 4 Corporate structure . 4 Intercorporate relationships . 4 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS . 5 Natural Gas Pipelines . 5 Liquids Pipelines . 12 Power and Storage . 14 BUSINESS OF TC ENERGY . 15 Natural Gas Pipelines . 15 Liquids Pipelines . 15 Regulation of Natural Gas Pipelines and Liquids Pipelines . 16 Power and Storage . 17 GENERAL . 18 Employees . 18 Health, safety, sustainability and environmental protection and social policies . 18 RISK FACTORS . 20 DIVIDENDS . 21 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE . 21 Share capital . 21 CREDIT RATINGS . 24 Moody's . 25 S&P . 25 Fitch . 25 DBRS . 26 MARKET FOR SECURITIES . 27 Common shares . 27 Preferred shares . 28 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS . 29 Directors . 29 Board committees . 31 Officers . 32 Conflicts of interest . 33 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE . 34 AUDIT COMMITTEE . 35 Relevant education and experience of members . 35 Pre-approval policies and procedures . 37 External auditor service fees . 37 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY ACTIONS . 38 TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR . 38 MATERIAL CONTRACTS . 38 INTEREST OF EXPERTS . 38 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . 38 GLOSSARY . 39 SCHEDULE A . ..
    [Show full text]
  • March 30, 2020 OPEN LETTER: Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Project
    March 30, 2020 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Honourable Patty Hajdu Office of the Prime Minister Minister of Health 80 Wellington Street Confederation Building, 278 House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Via Email Only: pm@pm.gc.ca Via Email Only: Patty.Hajdu@parl.gc.ca Honourable John Horgan Honourable Adrian Dix Premier of Executive Council Minster of Health Parliament Buildings Parliament Buildings Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4 Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4 Via Email Only: premier@gov.bc.ca Via Email Only: HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca OPEN LETTER: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project Must be Halted Due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister Hajdu, Premier Horgan, and Minister Dix, We urge you to act swiftly to protect the public’s health from the heightened risks of COVID-19 transmission posed by ongoing construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project. Most vulnerable to the spread will be frontline healthcare workers, project workers, and local Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities forced to shoulder the consequences for any disregard for health and safety. Directed by Resolution 2019-07, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs has called on Canada and B.C. to honour Wet’suwet’en Title and Rights that have never been extinguished and are confirmed by the S.C.C. in Delgamuukw. Under the standards enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, legislated in BC and affirmed by Canada, free, prior, and informed consent of proper Title and Rights holders impacted must be achieved before any approval of any project affecting their land, territories, and other resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Ltd
    Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. NEB 1.1 Jurisdiction over the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Response to Information Request Project MH-053-2018 IR Number: NEB 1.1 Category: Economic Matters Topic: Corporate Structure Reference: i) A97628-1, Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd., Additional Written Evidence, PDF Page 8 of 18 ii) A97628-1, Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd., Additional Written Evidence, PDF Page 11 of 18 iii) A93296-1, Sawyer Application, PDF Pages 16-17 of 19 iv) A97628-1, Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd., Additional Written Evidence, PDF Page 5 of 18 Preamble: In reference i), Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. (CGL) states that it is directed separately from other TransCanada Corporation (TCC) subsidiaries. Reference ii) states that CGL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TCC. CGL is the general partner of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership (CGL LP). CGL LP is the partnership through which the Coastal GasLink Pipeline (CGL Pipeline) is being constructed. Reference iii) is a table filed by Mr. Sawyer entitled "Directors and Officers of Coastal GasLink Ltd. and Positions with TransCanada.” Reference iii) also includes a table entitled “Coastal GasLink Ltd. Senior Staff and TCPL Positions.” Reference iv) states that CGL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TCPL), which in turn is a wholly- owned subsidiary of TCC. Request: a) Provide a chart reflecting the corporate structure of each of TCC, TCPL, NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL), as well as CGL, CGL LP and all other corporate entities that own or may operate CGL Pipeline. Include a description summarizing the ownership of each entity and the operating relationships with each other.
    [Show full text]
  • Transcanada Update Powerpoint Presentation
    Project Update: Prince George Council Kiel Giddens, Public Affairs Manager, British Columbia April 29, 2019 Confidential TransCanada In business to deliver CGL4703-CGP-PR-PRES-0030 Natural Gas Pipelines Natural Gas Pipelines (llnder Canstructlon) About TransCanada Natural Gas Pipelines (In Development) Gas Storage • One of North America’s largest North Montney natural gas pipeline operators Mainline I • Canada’s largest private-sector power generator; over 60% emission free • 50 years in B.C. • Offices in B.C. • Vancouver Tusc.irora • Prince George • Cranbrook ,North Baja Topolobampo_,...- ~ .. .< · \ _Miuatlan , l ' ; Sur de leiras j Tula-Villa ,i __ de Rey~~~l,3maz uncl'1-ale Gw d~ la;iara -~Tu la ...,.Jr · .,,,, , xpan• ~ ~ TransCanada Final Investment Decision Coastal GasLink Route )> r- )> V\ ~ )> n 0 r" 37 Houston C s -~ •--....------~ to -)> Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Project Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Project Other -- Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Project Certified Corridor • Proposed Coastal Gaslink Metering Facility • LNG Canada Facility (3rd party) .... • Potential South of Houston Alternate Route (SHAR) & Proposed Coastal Gaslink Compression & Metering Facility TransCanada's NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) Existing System .6. Potential Future Coasta l Ga slink Compression Facilities (TBD) O Hi ghways • Citi es and Towns Pipeline Work Packages Work Package Contractor Section 1 – 92 km SURERUS Section 2 – 48 km MURPHY Section 3 – 104 km Section 4 – 93 km Section 6 – 80 km Section 7 – 83 km 1 Section 5 – 82 km Section 8 – 84 km 2 3 8 7 6 5 4 Work Package 2 - Section 3 & 4 Coastal Gaslink - r'"nrit t.uJ 1~ t b1h l!IK• ri Prf-1 ,1 Py ;n1 P-..N1 •III &.,,11 u• ,.
    [Show full text]
  • Squaring the Circle: Adopting UNDRIP in Canada
    2020 Squaring the Circle Adopting UNDRIP in Canada Tom Flanagan 2020 • Fraser Institute Squaring the Circle Adopting UNDRIP in Canada by Tom Flanagan fraserinstitute.org Contents Executive Summary / i Introduction / 1 UNDRIP’s History / 3 Federal Bills / 6 British Columbia / 9 Discussion / 11 References / 15 About the Author / 20 Acknowledgments / 20 Publishing Information / 21 Supporting the Fraser Institute / 22 Purpose, Funding, and Independence / 22 About the Fraser Institute / 23 Editorial Advisory Board / 24 fraserinstitute.org Flanagan x Squaring the Circle x i Executive Summary The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) was approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. Its most controversial fea- ture is a call for “free, prior, and informed consent” (FPIC) by Indigenous peoples before economic development projects can take place on lands they inhabit or to which they may have a claim. Because UNDRIP is neither a convention nor a treaty, it is not legally binding unless it is adopted in legislation. Canada opposed UNDRIP at the United Nations because FPIC and similar sweeping provisions in the document are not con- sistent with Canadian constitutional law. The government of Stephen Harper adopted it in 2010 with the proviso that it was a statement of aspirations but not legally binding. The same position was taken by the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Since 2010, Indigenous advocates have made several attempts to enshrine UNDRIP in legislation, using ambiguous language about its legal impact. Support by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was particularly important. NDP MP Roméo Saganash presented two private member’s bills that ultimately failed to receive passage in Parliament.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Project Local Contracting Opportunities
    Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project Local Contracting Opportunities TransCanada’s proposed Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project is expected to generate more than $4.8 billion in construction investment. More than 30 per cent of this amount is forecast to be spent in British Columbia. TransCanada is North America’s leading pipeline company, and sets industry standards for design and construction quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. From now through the end of the decade, Coastal GasLink and its prime contractors will seek highly qualified suppliers and service providers who can work with us to achieve continuous improvement. In many cases it will make business sense to engage local vendors and gain advantages such as flexibility, short travel times and local knowledge. About Coastal GasLink The Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project is proposed to transport natural We are evaluating potential prime contractors, who will be large firms gas from Groundbirch, west of Dawson Creek, to the port of Kitimat. In with international experience in large-diameter pipeline construction in Kitimat the natural gas is to be liquefied at the proposed LNG Canada mountainous terrain. We expect to put two or three primes to work on facility, and then shipped to international markets. this project, organized geographically. In addition, we expect to engage Coastal GasLink was launched in mid-2012. We have identified a one or two facility primes to build the compressor and meter stations. proposed pipeline route, done extensive field studies, and secured Our construction is dependent on a Final Investment Decision by joint an Environmental Assessment Certificate from the BC Environmental venture partners of LNGC (our customer).
    [Show full text]
  • The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD): a User Guide for Land Defenders
    The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD): A User Guide for Land Defenders By: Shiri Pasternak, Anne Spice & Emma Feltes INTRODUCTION CANADA ALWAYS looks for ways to deny the CERD’s harshly worded decision called inherent rights of Indigenous peoples. But, upon Canada to immediately suspend internationally, it’s a different story. Self- determination is a well-established principle of construction on, respectively, the international law. That is why Indigenous nations Coastal GasLink pipeline, Trans Mountain and groups have used international human rights pipeline, and the Site C dam until the free, mechanisms like the United Nations Committee on prior and informed consent of the people the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) for years to assert their rights, build political leverage, could be obtained. demand accountability, and access enforcement mechanisms. The Committee also told Canada to get some adults in the room, encouraging “the State party to seek But most of all, Indigenous Peoples, as Arthur technical advice from the United Nations Expert Manuel often said, can’t “cry on the shoulder of Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.” the guy who took your land.” That guy can change Canada now has to respond to this decision when it things but won’t, because, well, he has your land. reports to the Committee at the end of this year. You have to speak to his manager. Advocating to CERD has been effective for these Which is exactly what Indigenous groups have groups, but navigating this system can seem hard been doing. In December 2019, CERD responded from the outside.
    [Show full text]
  • Canadian LNG Competitiveness
    December 2019 Canadian LNG Competitiveness Beyond LNG Canada, will the country overcome self-inflicted regulatory uncertainty and high projected capital costs to become a global player? OIES PAPER: NG 156 J. Peter Findlay, OIES Research Associate & Criterium Group The contents of this paper are the author’s sole responsibility. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies or any of its members. Copyright © 2019 Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (Registered Charity, No. 286084) This publication may be reproduced in part for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgment of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. ISBN 978-1-78467-153-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26889/9781784671532 1 Preface In our analysis of the global LNG market it has been clear for some time that Canada has huge gas resources potentially available for export, especially since sales into the US have been curtailed by the rise of shale gas production south of the border. The key question has always been whether their development could be done in a cost-effective manner to allow Canadian LNG to compete with emerging supplies from the rest of the world. The recent decision by Shell and its partners to take a final investment decision on the LNG Canada project has underlined that they, at least, believe that the prospects are good in British Columbia, based on low upstream costs and the resolution of numerous midstream and regulatory issues.
    [Show full text]
  • EAO), and the Other to the BC Oil and Gas Commission (OGC)
    Introduction to our Application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. (Coastal GasLink) is proposing to develop an approximately 650-kilometre pipeline to deliver natural gas from near Dawson Creek, B.C. to the LNG Canada gas liquefaction facility, proposed to be developed near Kitimat, B.C. Coastal GasLink is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited. LNG Canada is a joint venture of Shell Canada and three partner companies. In order to proceed with the pipeline, Coastal GasLink will need regulatory approvals based on two separate applications – one to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), and the other to the BC Oil and Gas Commission (OGC). Our application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate from the EAO was submitted on January 29, 2014, and accepted for review in February. In preparing the application, Coastal GasLink conducted over 100,000 hours of environmental field work on or near the proposed pipeline route studying; aquatic habitat, wildlife, terrain, soils, vegetation and wetlands, atmospheric environment, hydrology, archaeological resources, traditional ecological knowledge and timber. Coastal GasLink also gathered information about current and traditional land use, social and economic conditions and community priorities in the project area. This document offers a brief overview of our application to the EAO. Later in 2014, Coastal GasLink will submit a technical application to the OGC, specifying the technical features of the proposed pipeline and related facilities such as compressor and meter stations. This second application will include detailed engineering information as informed by the results of our 2013 engineering field studies. Pending approval from regulatory authorities, project construction is scheduled to begin in 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Participants in the MH-053-2018 Proceeding Jurisdiction Over T
    LETTER DECISION File OF-Fac-PipeGen-T211 04 26 July 2019 To: All Participants in the MH-053-2018 Proceeding Jurisdiction over the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project MH-053-2018 Decision of the National Energy Board THE PROJECT The Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project (CGL Pipeline or Project) is an under-construction pipeline wholly situated within the Province of British Columbia (BC). It is currently primarily regulated by the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC). The review process for the Project commenced in 2012, when Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. (CGL) filed its project description with the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO). The Project received an Environmental Assessment Certificate in October 2014. Subsequently, between January and April 2015, CGL applied to the BCOGC for the requisite permits to construct the Project. The BCOGC issued those permits between May 2015 and April 2016. Once constructed and put into operation, the CGL Pipeline will be approximately 670 kilometres (km) in length, and will deliver natural gas from its inlet in the Groundbirch area of BC, to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Kitimat, BC. THE APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF JURSIDICTION On 30 July 2018, the National Energy Board (Board) received an application (A93296) from Mr. Michael Sawyer (Application), requesting that the Board: 1) pursuant to subsection 12(1) of the National Energy Board Act (NEB Act), determine and issue a declaratory order that the CGL Pipeline is properly within federal jurisdiction and subject to regulation by the Board; 2) pursuant to section 57 of the Federal Courts Act, issue a Notice of Constitutional Question in respect of the requested declaratory order; and …/2 3) in the alternative, refer the question of jurisdiction over the Project to the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) pursuant to subsection 18.3(1) and section 28 of the Federal Courts Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Mediaadvisory
    MediaAdvisory Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project Conditionally Awards $620 Million in Contracting Opportunities to B.C. First Nations Additional $400 Million in Contract Opportunities for Northern Communities Will Bring Approximately $1 Billion to B.C. PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia -- June 26, 2018 – Media Advisory – TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) (TransCanada) is pleased to announce that its Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project is conditionally awarding $620 million in contract work to northern British Columbia (B.C.) Indigenous businesses for the project’s right-of-way clearing, medical, security and camp management needs. The project anticipates another $400 million in additional contract and employment opportunities for Indigenous and local B.C. communities during pipeline construction. All contracts remain conditional upon a Final Investment Decision by the Joint Venture Participants of LNG Canada for their proposed natural gas liquefaction facility in Kitimat, B.C. “The relationships we have built with our local and Indigenous communities play a vital role in the work that we do every day,” said George Hemeon, senior manager, Indigenous & Local Contracting and Employment for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project. “Today is a testament to how important these relationships are and to the extraordinary accomplishments we can achieve when we work together.” The Coastal GasLink project will employ a range of job opportunities that require a variety of responsibilities, skill levels and trade specialization from Indigenous and local resources. Specialized project work includes right-of- way clearing, gravel processing, access road development, camp and storage site preparation, camp support services, materials hauling, right-of-way grading, welding, installation, site clean-up, reclamation and other activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Oil and Gas News Briefs, May 3, 2021
    Oil and Gas News Briefs Compiled by Larry Persily May 3, 2021 Gas flaring declined in 2020, but producers still burned off 5 tcf (World Oil; April 29) - In an unprecedented year for the oil and gas industry, oil production declined by 8% in 2020 while global gas flaring was down 5%, according to satellite data compiled by the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership. Oil and gas production declined amid pandemic-induced lockdowns and economic constrictions. And although the volume of gas flared worldwide declined last year to 5 trillion cubic feet, the world still flared enough gas to power sub-Saharan Africa. Gas-flaring satellite data from 2020 reveals that Russia, Iraq, Iran, the U.S., Algeria, Venezuela, and Nigeria remain the top seven gas-flaring countries for nine years running, since the first satellite was launched in 2012. These seven countries produce 40% of the world’s oil each year and account for roughly two-thirds of gas flaring. This trend is indicative of ongoing, though differing, challenges facing these countries. The U.S. has thousands of individual flare sites, difficult to connect to markets, while a few high-flaring oil fields in East Siberia in the Russia are extremely remote, lacking the infrastructure to capture and transport the associated gas. Flaring, the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction, occurs due to multiple issues, including market and economic constraints and a lack of regulation and political will, the World Bank project said. The practice results in a range of pollutants released into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane and black carbon (soot).
    [Show full text]