Another stop work order for FortisBC's pipeline
December 21, 2024
Tracey Saxby
Acid rock drainage issues from FortisBC's tunnel
As FortisBC excavates 5.2 km of granite bedrock for its 14-foot wide tunnel, their treatment plan is to store potentially acid generating rock in a stockpile at the upper quarry on the Woodfibre site.
Acid rock drainage comes from rock that contains significant concentrations of sulfide minerals that react with water, air, and bacteria to generate acidic and metal-laden effluent. When acid rock drainage mixes with groundwater, surface water, or soil, there is a high risk of harmful effects on exposed humans, animals and plants, and a decrease in biodiversity.
Acid rock drainage from Britannia Mine once made Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound one of the most polluted areas in North America. It has taken decades and millions of dollars of public money to clean up the pollution from the copper mine. LEARN MORE
History repeating? Not on our watch.
Last year, we wrote to the BC Energy Regulator to flag that FortisBC's plans to monitor and mitigate acid rock drainage were inadequate. The regulator ignored our concerns.
Now we've learned that contrary to requirements, FortisBC has buried ~60 cubic metres of potential acid-generating rock in an unlined stockpile, mixed with non-acid-generating rock. The BC Environmental Assessment Office has issued yet another non-compliance order. Shockingly, this hasn't resulted in a stop work order yet...
Acid rock drainage is a potential toxic time bomb for Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Much more potentially acid generating rock is expected to be encountered from the tunnel excavations. FortisBC is not taking their permit conditions seriously and is failing to properly manage this risk.
Stop work... for coastal tailed frogs
Small but mighty... FortisBC has been issued with a stop work order near specific waterways along the pipeline route from Coquitlam to Squamish, for failing to salvage coastal tailed frogs, which are listed as a species of "special concern" under the Federal Species at Risk Act.
This is yet another example of how FortisBC is cutting corners in the rush to construction.
🔥Cancel the permits!
It's not too late to #CancelthePermits for Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC. We are never giving up the fight!
That's why My Sea to Sky has partnered with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association to overturn project approvals for Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC, and hold the Federal and Provincial governments to account.
More than 430 generous donors have raised over $157,000 to support our legal actions in the past year. We need to hit $200,000 by the end of 2024 as we prepare to go to court in early 2025. Can you chip in to help pay for legal fees, expert peer review, access to information, and dedicated staff time to support our legal actions?
The next $10,000 we raise will be tripled by two wonderful local families.
CHIP IN TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL ACTIONSWe cannot let Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC undermine decades of work to restore Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound.
Please chip in to defend what you love. Every donation helps.
With love for this beautiful place we all call home.
Tracey Saxby
Director of Campaigns & Communications
My Sea to Sky
My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Can you chip in?