Taking action in support of our vital natural resource sector

With Coastal GasLink (CGL) now back in the minds of many Canadians due to renewed protests within Wet'suwet'en territory, some are now also curious about what the pipeline is doing to protect the environment.

If you don't know just yet, Canadian pipeline projects are built under one of the world's most stringent and transparent regulatory regimes. Proponents must apply world-class environmental protection and mitigation techniques while monitoring wildlife every step of the way -- as required under Canadian law. The Coastal GasLink project is no different.

So then, what exactly are CGL workers doing to mitigate environmental impacts along the natural gas pipeline's 670-kilometre route? Recently surpassing its 50 per cent completion milestone, it is a good time to look at some facts surrounding Coastal GasLink's environmental and safety standards.

Here are 20 facts showing what Coastal GasLink is doing to protect the environment. Also see:

• 20+ Quotes from First Nations Who Support Coastal GasLink
• Canadian LNG Can Help Prevent Energy Supply Shortages
• Why You Should Support Coastal GasLink

Coastal GasLink Environmental Facts

1. A staggering 7,200 pages of protection were submitted by Coastal GasLink to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office before the project began construction.

2. Coastal GasLink is committed to building and operating the project in accordance with all regulatory requirements required to protect water crossings such as the Morice River, including those outlined in the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA).

3. Routine inspections will ensure Coastal GasLink is held accountable to mitigate potential adverse effects on the environment, heritage, health, social and economic values, and Indigenous interests throughout its life span.

4. Numerous environmental field studies will continue to be conducted by scientists and highly trained field workers to develop effective protection plans for Coastal GasLink. Areas of study during fieldwork include fisheries and aquatics, archaeology, wildlife, hydrology and hydrogeology.

5. Coastal GasLink has engaged in a highly transparent process with local communities and environmental measures. A great example is the fact that there are Indigenous monitors to provide proponents with feedback on activities and report back to First Nations communities on the pipeline's overall progress.

6. Since announced in 2012, Coastal GasLink has held more than 26,000 engagements with Indigenous groups to listen to their concerns, gather feedback, and plan the pipeline route.

7. Coastal GasLink completed 19 traditional land use studies with local Indigenous communities. The traditional land use studies assisted project proponents in improving the planning process while promoting respect for the people and land along the pipeline's route.

8. Coastal GasLink will be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by highly trained control centre operators to ensure that the pipeline continues to operate safely upon completion.

9. Coastal GasLink's 72 fisheries and aquatics crews consist of environmental experts who have spent over 43,000 hours lessening the impact on fish and aquatic habitat along the pipeline's route.

10. As of November 2020, 212,000 amphibians were safely relocated throughout the construction of CGL.

11. Noise levels of compressor stations will be routinely monitored to ensure they remain in compliance with the appropriate local regulations and maintain wellness of community members and wildlife. The stations are engineered to minimize the noise impact on surrounding areas, including silencers and noise attenuation.

12. Coastal GasLink invested in the expansion of the Nupqu Native Plant Nursery, which will help the facility increase its capacity to 100,000 Whitebark Pine seedlings and assist in restoring the threatened tree species in southeastern B.C.

13. LNG Canada is projected to produce some of the least carbon-intensive LNG in the world for export to overseas markets where it is expected to displace higher GHG forms of power generation and reduce global CO2 emissions. Coastal GasLink is the pipeline to supply feedstock for the LNG Canada terminal.

14. LNG in Canada could eventually displace up to 40 coal-fired power plants in Asia, equivalent to removing 80 per cent of emissions from all cars on the road in Canada each year.

15. Switching from coal to Canadian natural gas for electricity generation in Chinese plants could reduce emissions by up to 62 per cent, according to a June 2020 study published in the Journal for Cleaner Production.

16. With global LNG demand forecast to increase by up to 50 per cent by 2030, the world will need more responsibly produced LNG as we all work towards climate action – what better place for supply to come from than sustainable producers in Canada?!

17. CGL's parent company has successfully reclaimed hundreds of thousands of acres of land through past projects, and Coastal GasLink will be no different! Land along the project's route will be fully reclaimed under Canadian law.

18. Over a minimum of five years, resource specialists will revisit sites along the pipeline to compare them to pre-construction land conditions, furthering CGL's commitment to protecting the environment.

19. Coastal GasLink's parent company has been safely operating in the province for more than 50 years.

20. CGL's parent company's environmental practices have been internationally recognized for:

• Coastal GasLink was one of the first pipelines to apply horizontal directional technology for larger river crossings.
• Pioneering innovative winter construction techniques to mitigate impacts along the project's route.
• Investing generously towards the conservation and enhancement of endangered species.
• Adopting and creating new technology to make pipelines more efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their operation.

The World Needs More Canadian LNG

Canada is a world leader in oil and gas production when considering environmental, social and governance metrics. Projects such as Coastal GasLink further our nation's gas export capabilities to offset coal use in overseas markets and supply the world with some of the least carbon-intensive LNG found anywhere on the planet.

While LNG demand continues to grow in a world ever increasingly focussed on environmental outcomes, it only makes sense that producers such as Canada step up to the plate to supply the world with the LNG it needs. Supporting renewably powered Canadian LNG projects isn't only good for Canadian families, but also benefits the global environment!

Learn more about Canada's world-class record on sustainable natural resource production by joining us online at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook today. We hope to see you there!

“We are #Wetsuweten and the #CoastalGasLink pipeline protesters do not represent us.

We want the protesters to cease their blockades and stop misleading people.” #WetsuwetenStrong https://t.co/34RHcrvzf9

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) December 7, 2021