The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) has approved a request to add a second floating workcamp — known as a “floatel” — to house workers at the Woodfibre LNG construction site southwest of Squamish.
The decision, made by the EAO’s deputy chief executive assessment officer, follows a comprehensive joint review by the EAO, the Squamish Nation, and the federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). The two other regulators are expected to issue their own approvals shortly.
Conditions expanded for second floatel
The approval extends existing conditions first applied in 2024 to the original floatel, which has been housing workers since June of that year. Those conditions address potential impacts on local housing, safety, and community services — including restrictions on worker access to Squamish for recreation and non-work-related activities.
The EAO said similar restrictions will apply to residents of the second floatel. Woodfibre LNG must also continue to operate its Gender Safety Advisory Committee and Workplace Culture Committee, and ensure access to medical and mental-health services for all workers.
The approval adds new monitoring and reporting requirements aimed at ensuring transparency and effective oversight, while maintaining the cap on the number of workers living within the District of Squamish.
Power connection and environmental monitoring required
The EAO decision requires the new floatel to connect to the BC Hydro grid by June 1, 2026. Until then, Woodfibre LNG must carry out additional air-quality monitoring and reporting during temporary use of diesel generators.
The first floatel is already connected to the electricity grid. The company must also update its marine fish and fish habitat plan, along with its marine transportation plan for the construction phase.
EAO compliance officers will continue monitoring the project to ensure all requirements are met during both construction and operation.
Project overview
Woodfibre LNG General Partner Ltd. is constructing the liquefied natural gas export facility on the ancestral Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) village site of swiýát, about seven kilometres southwest of Squamish. The location was previously home to the Woodfibre Pulp and Paper Mill, which closed in 2006.
The project received its environmental assessment certificate in October 2015. It will be supplied with natural gas from FortisBC’s Woodfibre-Eagle Mountain pipeline and includes:
- Land-based facilities: Natural gas processing and liquefaction plant, condensate storage, and jetty infrastructure.
- Marine infrastructure: Floating storage tanks and offloading units.
- Worker accommodations: Two floating camps, or floatels, for construction crews.
Construction is underway, with completion expected in 2027.
