Environmental Impact of Coastal GasLink Pipeline

The Coastal GasLink Pipeline is the center of many recent news stories as Wet’suwet’en people and supporters acting in solidarity defend Wet’suwet’en sovereignty, law, and land. This land is one part of the proposed 675 km pipeline that is planned to stretch approximately from the community of Groundbirch to the proposed export facility near Kitimat in British Columbia (1). In addition to disregard for Indigenous rights, the installation and operation of the pipeline are drawing criticism for potential adverse environmental impacts. We took a look here at how Coastal GasLink and their pipeline could harm local and national ecosystems.

The October 2014 Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project Assessment Report, prepared by the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) of British Columbia, outlines the potential environmental impacts of the project. The scope of the project includes up to eight compressor station sites, eighteen construction camps, storage areas and access roads (1). While the potential for a spill associated with the pipeline is low, the pipeline is expected to have significant negative affects on wildlife populations and will increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The Coastal GasLink Pipeline will be transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is natural gas that has been condensed into a liquid state at extremely cold temperatures (about -260°C) (2). LNG is considered non-toxic and has low solubility in water (1). A pipeline accident or malfunction would lead to a leak where pressurized gas containing methane would rapidly enter the atmosphere (1). Therefore, any leak is not expected to have negative impacts on quality of ground or surface water or surrounding land; however, imminent concerns about the impact of a leak include increase in emissions, and the potential for a fire or explosion if an ignition source such as a forest fire came into proximity with the highly pressurized gas (1). The EAO report does not estimate the likelihood of these occurrences.

The report also considered the impacts the project would have on at least twenty-one animals including grizzly bears and western-screech owls. Out of all of the wildlife considered, the Hart Ranges and Telkwa caribou herds are predicted to experience the most significant adverse effects. Both of these herds are considered threatened under federal legislation and are on provincial conservation lists (1). An estimated 129 out of 459 Hart Ranges caribou herds will be affected by the project, and 32% of their functional habitat will be disturbed (1). Telkwa caribou are highly endangered, with only about 20 animals remaining; the pipeline project will jeopardize almost half of it (1). Based on the 2014 federal recovery strategy, almost all of the habitat for both of these herds is considered critical habitat (1). The predicted cumulative impacts of this project on these caribou populations is so negative that federal management and conservation plans for recovering these populations may not be possible (1). Further, the existence of a pipeline to the west coast will inevitably draw more tanker traffic to pick up processed gas. The increased prevalence of tankers may endanger several local whale species, with the orca being most at risk – increased noise, habitat destruction, food source depletion, and contact with boats all harm these whales and reduce population sizes (3).