The entity responsible for a significant LNG export facility on the North Coast of British Columbia has received a $50,000 penalty for violating regulations regarding underwater noise during the construction of a tug terminal three years ago in Kitimat, where LNG Canada’s natural gas liquefaction and export terminal commenced operations last year.
According to the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), LNG Canada (LNGC) breached its environmental assessment certificate by conducting pile-driving activities on multiple occasions in May and June of 2023 without following its marine mammal management and monitoring plan (MMP). The EAO determined that LNG Canada did not adequately monitor underwater acoustics at the expected marine mammal exclusion zone (MMEZ), failed to deploy sufficient marine mammal observers during operations, and neglected to use noise-reducing bubble curtains during all piling activities, as stipulated in the MMP.
In response, LNG Canada contested the findings, arguing that their non-compliance was due to a procedural matter about consulting with regulators before altering the monitoring plan. The company claimed that using vibratory pile-driving instead of impact methods mitigated underwater noise, making the initially mandated 1.9-kilometer MMEZ unnecessary. They asserted that their adaptive monitoring approach effectively safeguarded marine life, supported by subsequent hydroacoustic modeling indicating minimal noise impact on aquatic mammals.
However, the regulator dismissed these arguments, emphasizing that the requirements outlined in the MMP were not open to interpretation or modification. Despite LNG Canada’s rationale, the approved Construction MMP remained binding during the 2023 piling activities and had not been amended or replaced. The regulatory framework mandated adherence to the approved MMP without discretion for alternative monitoring or mitigation measures preferred by the company.
A spokesperson for LNG Canada stated that the company was evaluating the EAO’s final decision and had taken concrete actions to address the compliance issues highlighted, including enhancing monitoring protocols. An updated marine monitoring plan was developed and approved by the province in 2025.
The federal government has recognized LNG Canada as a project of national significance. In late September, the company confirmed its intention to proceed with the $33 billion Phase 2 expansion, aimed at doubling LNG production at the facility from 14 million to 28 million tonnes per year.
