Two adverts placed in the Sentinel by Chevron Canada recently were not an indication that the Pacific Trail Pipeline or the Kitimat LNG projects are advancing any further.
Chevron Communications Lead Ray Lord said the notices were placed to announce the company’s intention to conduct routine maintenance, part of the permit requirements for both projects.
The first of those notices was placed to announce the company’s intention to perform routine maintenance along the pipeline right of way.
“The right of way runs across northern B.C. between Burns Lake and Kitimat. Even though that pipeline is not advancing at this stage, that right of way does need to be maintained,” said Lord.
He said permit requirements include regular inspections of the right of way, “to keep an eye on the vegetation and erosion that may occur”.
“The notice you’re seeing relates to regulatory compliance work along the right of way, as needed. This notice is advising folks that this work will be going ahead this summer,” said Lord, adding the same adverts appeared in newspapers in towns along the right of way.
He said maintenance would also include work on roads, mostly old logging roads, that give contractors access to the right of way.
“There isn’t too much yet in the way of infrastructure other than the right of way clearing,” said Lord. “There is no rollout of the pipeline at this point.”
He said the second notice referred to demolition work at the former Eurocan site in the Kitimat industrial area.
“Chevron is the operator of both the downstream components of the proposed liquefaction plant at Bish Cove and the industrial site, which is intended to be repurposed for the actual work camp to support that construction,” said Lord.
He said there are a number of structures on the site that were used by Eurocan.
“There’s a former sawmill building, which is probably the largest, most noticeable structure, that will be removed during the rest of 2017, as well as a number of other smaller structures and pipeways,” said Lord.
He said this work is part of early works, which involves preparing the various sites prior to a Final Investment Decision being made, in order to fully understand the cost and engineering that will be involved in the project.
“The intention is to repurpose and remediate areas on that site. As a heavy industrial site there are structures and soil conditions that will require remediation and monitoring over some years – a cleanup,” said Lord.
He added that will require monitoring of the landfill on the site and treatment of the leachate in the landfill.
He also invited the public to attend an open house on June 20 where Chevron representatives will have aerial photographs of the planned demolition, and will answer questions relating to Kitimat LNG and the maintenance work Chevron will be conducting.