A request to allow a second floating workcamp or ‘floatel’ for workers building the Woodfibre LNG liquified natural gas construction site southwest of Squamish, B.C. has been approved.

The deputy chief executive assessment officer of the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) made the decision after carefully considering the EAO’s comprehensive review.

The application to amend the Woodfibre LNG environmental assessment certificate also requires approvals by Squamish Nation and the federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), which are expected to be announced today.

The review was jointly conducted by all three regulators in collaboration with technical experts from other provincial and federal agencies, First Nations and local government. The public also provided input.

Conditions for the first floatel, which has now been housing workers since June 2024, were put in place to address impacts to housing, safety and community services, including restricting floatel residents’ access to Squamish. Similar to its review of the first floating workcamp, the EAO considered potential impacts on residents, housing and services in nearby communities in reviewing the request for the second floatel.

Conditions were updated to include the second floatel, with clarified requirements on workforce accommodation and exceptions, without increasing the number of workers living in the District of Squamish or introducing new risks. Expanded monitoring and reporting requirements will support effective implementation and transparency.

For those residing on the floatels, worker access to the District of Squamish for recreation, entertainment or other non-work-related activities continues to be restricted. Woodfibre LNG must continue to maintain the Gender Safety Advisory Committee and Workplace Culture Committee, and provide access to medical and mental-health services for all workers to reduce demand on non-emergency medical services.

The approval requires the second floatel to be connected to the BC Hydro power grid by June 1, 2026, with additional air-quality monitoring and reporting required during temporary use of disel generators. The first floatel is connected to the electricity grid. Updates to the marine fish and fish habitat plan, as well as the marine transportation plan for construction are also required.

The EAO thoroughly assesses all project amendments 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.

EAO compliance and enforcement officers monitor projects on an ongoing basis to make sure they meet all requirements throughout construction and operation.

Key Facts:

• Woodfibre LNG General Partner Ltd. is building the liquefied natural gas export facility at the ancestral Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) village site of swiýát, located approximately seven kilometres southwest of Squamish. The site more recently operated as the Woodfibre Pulp and Paper Mill until 2006.

• The project received its environmental assessment certificate in October 2015, and will be supplied with natural gas by FortisBC’s Woodfibre-Eagle Mountain pipeline.

• The project includes land-based natural gas processing and liquefication facility, condensate storage, floating storage tanks, offloading unit and jetty, and now two floating accommodations for workers.

• The Woodfibre LNG facility is under construction and expected to be completed in 2027.

Learn More:

Decision documents: 
https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/588511e1aaecd9001b8272e7/documents?keywords=Woodfibre_amend

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