The British Columbia Environment Assessment Office has issued a hefty fine of $590,000 to Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. for deficiencies in the construction of its pipeline across the province. This comes after a series of 10 administrative penalties were imposed on the company for not meeting the requirements of its environmental assessment certificate.
The fines were a result of enforcement officers discovering issues with erosion and sediment control measures along the pipeline route in northern B.C. during April and May of 2023. The Environment Assessment Office stated that these penalties reflect an escalation of enforcement due to the company’s repeated non-compliance with requirements.
This is not the first time Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. has faced penalties for environmental violations. Previous fines totaling almost $800,000 were issued for failure to control erosion and sediment, with an additional $6,000 penalty for providing false or misleading information.
To address ongoing concerns, the Environment Assessment Office conducted numerous inspections along the 670-kilometre route by air and ground, resulting in 59 warnings and 13 stop-work orders. Despite these issues, the pipeline construction has now been completed.
This latest development underscores the importance of adhering to environmental regulations and the consequences of failing to do so. Companies conducting large-scale projects must prioritize environmental compliance to avoid penalties and ensure the protection of our natural resources.
© 2024 The Canadian Press.
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