FortisBC will host two information sessions next week to talk about its Eagle Mountain - Woodfibre gas pipeline project that will run north of Coquitlam.
Tri-City residents can learn about the proposal via a live video presentation on:
• Dec. 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• or Dec. 3 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
During each session, which will be followed by a question and answer period, company officials will speak about its plans to expand the existing natural gas pipeline between Coquitlam and Woodfibre, near Squamish.
Should it receive the necessary permits, FortisBC will add about 47 km of new 24-inch pipe from the Coquitlam watershed to the Woodfibre industrial site where its customer, Woodfibre LNG, is set to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing and export plant.
In Coquitlam, the project involves:
• adding two new electrically driven compressor stations, within the same site at its Eagle Mountain compressor station (by Eagle Mountain Park and the BC Hydro Coast Meridian substation);
• and twinning a three-kilometre section of its existing pipeline, near Westwood Plateau, to boost capacity for Woodfibre LNG.
Speaking at Monday’s council-in-committee meeting, FortisBC’s Gord Schoberg explained more about the work as well as the consultation and construction timelines, if approved.
This spring, FortisBC reached out to about 100 Plateau residents to discuss any concerns, he said, noting further outreach will happen once the details are refined.
One issue voiced is the potential uptick in noise, which Schoberg confirmed won’t rise more than two decibels (currently, the existing FortisBC gas line and compressor station measures a reading of 41 decibels). “I don’t believe residents will tell the difference,” Schoberg told the elected officials and city staff, adding, “The noise will remain at a tolerable level.”
As for construction — if the project gets the OK from the BC Oil and Gas Commission, the municipalities of Coquitlam and Squamish, and Squamish Nation — FortisBC anticipates building to ramp up by the middle of 2022 and concluding by 2024.
Asked by Coun. Dennis Marsden about traffic tie-ups once construction begins, Schoberg said the company will post signage, and control vehicles along Parkway Boulevard.
FortisBC is set to go out this week to seek bids on the tunnel portion of the pipeline, he said.
REPAVING, CRUNCH
Meanwhile, Coquitlam reached a deal with FortisBC last week to repave the curb lanes along Como Lake Avenue, from North Road to Mariner Way; that outstanding work is a result of last year’s natural gas line upgrade by FortisBC.
Jaime Boan, the city’s general manager of engineering and public works, said the repaving will be tied to other infrastructure projects, and carried out by the municipality next year.
As well, the city is close to inking a contract with FortisBC to pay for some improvements on the Coquitlam Crunch, city manager Peter Steblin told the committee Monday; the top of the popular hiking trail is near the FortisBC Eagle Mountain project.
• Visit talkingenergy.ca/infosession to access the live video presentations on Dec. 2 and 3.
