Metlakatla and Prince Rupert offer up reaction to Pacific NorthWest LNG announcement

As local governments began to digest the Federal approval announcement  and the 190 conditions in place for the Pacific NorthWest LNG project, local officials started to deliver the first of their comments towards how they see the progress of the multi billion dollar project moving forward for the Northwest.

The Metlakatla First Nation outlined its comments through a Statement from Chief Harold Leighton, who noted that the Metlakatla Governing Council was pleased that the Federal Cabinet has issued a decision statement that addressed many of its environmental and cultural concerns and noted of the involvement of the Metlakatla Stewardship Society through the review and assessment of Pacific NorthWest LNG process.

“Following a lengthy period of consultation and engagement with federal and provincial agencies and Pacific NorthWest LNG, the Metlakatla Governing Council is pleased that the federal cabinet has issued a decision statement with conditions on the Pacific NorthWest LNG project that address environmental and cultural considerations. 

The Metlakatla Stewardship Society has been fully involved in the review and assessment of the Pacific NorthWest LNG export facility since February 2013. During that time, our highly qualified staff have made a wide variety of recommendations to the provincial and federal governments and the company based on provided documentation, internal studies and third party reviews of existing modelling related to Flora Bank. 

This work has resulted in numerous conditions being recommended to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to ensure any potential negative impacts are not only monitored and reported, but mitigated to the fullest extent possible."

The Metlakatla Council also expressed its satisfaction that many of the 190 conditions in place for the proposed development came through the efforts of the Metlakatla Stewardship Society.

Further noting that the Society will continue to be involved in all aspects of reviewing and monitoring the project to ensure that Pacific NorthWest is accountable to Metlakatla members and remain respectful of its culture and traditional territory.

A look at the full statement can be found below (click to expand):

The First comment on the Pacific NorthWest announcement from the City of Prince Rupert came around the noon hour, with Mayor Lee Brain offering his observations through his Twitter feed.

Mayor Lee Brain used an infographic to outline the City of Prince Rupert's approach to the Federal Decision, noting that while they see opportunity for growth and employment, they will be "reviewing the conditions for the Pacific NorthWest LNG project to determine how the City's previously raised concerns have been addressed during the Environmental Assessment."

Mayor Brain also observed that the City will also "look forward to concluding an impact/benefits agreement with Pacific NorthWest LNG", which he states "will contribute to securing a final investment decision"

So far to this point, there have been no comments released by the Lax Kw'alaams Band related to Tuesday's announcement.

You can review our notes on yesterday's decision from the Federal Government here, more items related to the Pacific NorthWest LNG project can be examined on our archive page.