Famously curious seals and sea lions will be able to inspect construction of the Woodfibre LNG export terminal under construction in British Columbia (BC) without forcing work to stop as a result of a regulation change.
The BC Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) has relaxed a noise restriction on the plant site near Vancouver that was sought by project sponsors Pacific Energy Corp. and Enbridge Inc.
Under the amendment, activity only has to stop if the sea mammals are spotted within roughly 1,500 feet of the work or when construction racket exceeds 190 decibels underwater. The 2.1 million metric tons/year project includes a land-based liquefaction facility and a floating storage and offloading unit that’s expected to enter service in 2027 at a cost of $3.8 billion to build.
The original regulation allowed noise at a maximum of 160 decibels and forced work to halt if seals and sea lions were detected within 4.4 miles of the project site.
Environmental critics said the BCEAO decision amounted to “shameful” neglect of wildlife to support companies from Singapore and Alberta.
BCEAO agreed with a marine mammal review presented by Woodfibre LNG during prolonged, contested hearings where the environmentalists attempted to use the original noise regulation to stop the project entirely.
“Residual effects in the form of pinniped [seal and sea lion] behavioral changes are considered likely within the underwater noise impact area,” the agency said.. “However, since the underwater noise from construction is temporary, it is unlikely to result in the loss of marine mammals individually or at a population level.”
