Environment Minister Mary Polak and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone have issued an environmental assessment certificate to Rio Tinto Alcan for the Terminal A Extension project in Kitimat.
The decision was made after considering a review led by British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Office. The ministers have issued the certificate with legally enforceable conditions that have given them the confidence to conclude that the project will be constructed and operated in a way that ensures that no significant adverse effects are likely to occur from the project.
The certificate conditions were developed following consultation and input from Haisla Nation, government agencies, communities and the public.
Key conditions for the project require Rio Tinto Alcan to:
In addition, Rio Tinto Alcan proposed a number of design changes during the environmental assessment, based on feedback received during the process, including:
The Terminal A Extension project will require various federal and provincial authorizations to proceed. The Environmental Assessment Office will co-ordinate compliance management efforts with other government agencies to ensure that the office is satisfied that certificate conditions are met throughout the life of the project.
The project is the extension of the existing Terminal A wharf by up to 250 meters to accommodate bulk carriers. It will replace existing facilities for the import and export of bulk materials.
In addition to the wharf extension, the project includes a barge ramp, tug dock and laydown area. The project will involve dredging over three years, with a dredge disposal site for contaminated dredged sediments and laydown soils and disposal at sea for other sediments.
Construction is expected to take over three years, with the extension in operation for over 50 years.