Lax Kw’alaams First Nation has rejected the $1 billion offer from Pacific NorthWest LNG for its consent on the proposed liquefied natural gas project on Lelu Island in the port of Prince Rupert.
According to a statement by Lax Kw’aalams, Lelu Island and the adjacent Flora Bank are located entirely in the traditional territory of the Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams. The area is also located in he estuary of the Skeena river which is the largest salmon producing river in British Columbia. Lax Kw’alaams is bound by the traditional law of all Tsimshian and up-river communities to protect the fisheries resource.
The First Nation said it has engaged with PNW since 2011 and has consistently articulated that the proposed LNG terminal must meet environmental safeguards appropriate for an estuary as important as the Skeena. It assembled a team of scientists directed to assess the environmental challenges posed by the existing design for movement of LNG from the terminal.
Lax Kw’aalams stressed that, “the proponent has made little effort to harmonize its field methods or its standards of data collection and interpretation with those of Lax Kw’alaams , even though Lax Kw’alaams has offered several times to collaborate with PNW.”
However, the group recognizes the positive economic impact of the project and adds that it will continue to work with PNW in good faith to find a solution.
Lax Kw’alaams is open to business, to development, and to LNG (including PNW). It is not open to development proximate to Flora Bank, the group said.
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LNG World News Staff; Image: PNW LNG