Good news! Squamish Nation has shut down FortisBC's tunnel... for now...
December 5, 2024
Eoin Finn
FortisBC's tunnel is shut down! For now...
Good news! Squamish Nation has shut down FortisBC's tunnel under the Squamish estuary.
FortisBC is drilling a 14-foot wide, 9 km long tunnel under the Squamish estuary from the BC Rail Site to Woodfibre LNG. But the ground around the tunnel keeps collapsing as the tunnel approaches the Squamish estuary. FortisBC's attempts to stabilize the ground have disturbed the riparian forest as FortisBC has cut down trees, and polluted nearby waterways.
Local Squamish resident, Luke Gatien, discovered a dead wood duck floating in the waterways directly behind the drill site. Wood ducks are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act. We're concerned about how the sediment (and other chemicals) in the waterways near the drill site will impact other migratory birds, fish, and wildlife in the Squamish estuary.
Via the Squamish Chief:
The Nation confirmed its members who monitor the project had concerns at the site.
"In recent weeks, Squamish Nation staff identified concerns through our routine on-site due diligence and immediately raised these concerns to Fortis through our regulatory role on the project," said Syexwaliya, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw spokesperson and council Member, in an email to The Squamish Chief.
"Fortis has stopped active tunnelling work on the project. Squamish Nation is monitoring the situation and is in discussion with Fortis to confirm how they will maintain compliance before tunnelling resumes."
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For months, My Sea to Sky's amazing monitoring team have been closely monitoring FortisBC's tunnel site in Squamish, filing complaints with regulators (including Squamish Nation), and alerting the public about the mess that FortisBC is making in the Squamish estuary. Provincial regulators have inspected the site and we're awaiting their reports.
Please join us in thanking Squamish Nation for acting in their role as a regulator to hold FortisBC accountable.
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🔥Cancel the permits!
It's not too late to #CancelthePermits for Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC. We are not 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 400 generous donors have raised over $135,465 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?
Every donation will be matched by a wonderful local donor.
CHIP IN TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL ACTIONSFortisBC's tunnel under the Squamish estuary is a disaster waiting to happen. The Squamish estuary is too precious to put at risk.
Please chip in to defend what you love. Every donation helps.
With Irish fury,
Eoin Finn
Board Chair
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?