Woodfibre LNG Marine Construction Update
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation Chairperson and Council) has approved Woodfibre LNG’s application to extend its marine construction window to start on June 1st, 2026, and extend through to April 30th, 2027. The Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has also approved the same application.
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw approval was granted after an extensive review involving the Ta na wa Yúus ta Stitúyntsam̓ (Rights & Title) department, as well as external fisheries biologists and determined there’s a low risk to fish and fish habitat. Woodfibre LNG has demonstrated good environmental compliance during the last two years of marine construction. This approval avoids overlap with any known sensitive features and avoids additional seasons of work.
The approval requires Woodfibre LNG to follow their Marine Fish and Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan, DFO’s Fisheries Act Authorization, and extensive monitoring during construction. In addition, they must conduct surveys in advance of starting work to verify no sensitive features are present such as herring spawn or lingcod eggs. In the event these are found, work is stopped until eggs have hatched.
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Indigenous Monitors will be onsite throughout marine construction to ensure compliance with the conditions of both this approval and the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement (SNEAA).
The Nation’s approach to this review was to consider potential cumulative issues during construction and ensure there was no net loss. As a result, Woodfibre LNG is required to provide additional marine stewardship and habitat restoration in Átl’ḵa7tsem (Howe Sound). This work is now in the planning stages, and we’ll engage with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people more on this soon.
To learn more about this, please read the FAQ below.
If you have any questions, please contact the Nation at: 778-966-1117 or swiyat@squamish.net.
Woodfibre LNG Marine Construction FAQ
Woodfibre LNG applied to extend the August to January marine construction window to support construction planning and maintain schedule certainty. With the revised window starting June 1, the project anticipates completing the marine construction portion of the project by April 2027.
Conducting this work between June 2026 and April 2027 means the pink salmon migration is avoided. There are no known areas of eelgrass, glass sponges, or other sensitive habitat in the part of site where this construction will occur– and surveys will continue to check for any changes. Additional surveys are required in advance of work starting to make sure no sensitive features are present such as herring spawn or lingcod eggs. Marine mammals are present year-round and the Nation worked with Woodfibre LNG to establish a robust marine mammal monitoring program, including underwater noise monitoring, throughout marine construction (work is shut down if marine mammals are nearby).
The Nation has far more oversight on this project than is typical, because of the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement signed in 2015 by Council. As part of the Nation’s regulatory role we:
- Have three full-time Indigenous Monitors at the Woodfibre LNG site (Nation members working for Rights & Title)
- Have two Community Outreach Coordinators (Nation and community members working for Rights & Title) to share information and respond to questions from Squamish people
- Conduct regular inspections at the site
- Have approval authority over management plans for the project
- Participate in a Fisheries Technical Advisory Committee to engage closely on all fisheries topics
- Issue SNEAA non-compliance reports in the event concerns are observed.
In addition to the Nation’s monitoring above, Woodfibre LNG also conducts environmental, water quality, fish, marine mammal, and underwater noise monitoring. This is being done to prevent and track any concerns should they occur. Woodfibre LNG has responded efficiently to any small spills or turbidity changes that have occurred to date. If Woodfibre LNG continues to comply with relevant requirements then no change to current conditions is expected because of this work.
Marine construction has been happening for the last two years, so the work proposed here will look the same.
The Woodfibre LNG site is an active construction area, therefore public access will continue to be restricted for safety reasons but boating/canoeing through Howe Sound remains the same.
If you are out on the water near the site, it is likely you will see lights and hear noise from pile driving and other construction activities.
Marine construction will only occur during the day and is expected to occur every day through the approved window until April 2027. Day and night work is happening during construction on land.
If you have any questions, please contact the Nation at: 778-966-1117 or swiyat@squamish.net.