Eagle Mountain - Woodfibre Gas Pipeline project
Delivering safe and reliable energy to our customers is a top priority for FortisBC. For this reason, for the last decade, we’ve worked with local Indigenous communities, stakeholders, government and residents to responsibly expand our existing natural gas system in Squamish and Coquitlam to supply natural gas to our customer, Woodfibre LNG.
Project overview
Through this project, we’ll install 50 kilometres of new natural gas pipeline between Squamish and Coquitlam, as well as supporting compressor station infrastructure. To minimize environmental footprint, most of this new line will run alongside our existing natural gas line.
Nine kilometres of new gas pipeline will be housed within a tunnel that runs beneath the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary.
We started early construction in the Squamish area in August 2023 and in Coquitlam in early 2024. For the latest construction updates, visit our updates tab.
The route
![EGP project overview map](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-06/22-007.3-EGP-Proj-OV-map-PIPELINE-844x585-web.jpg?itok=dRRIf7cg)
Third party reporting line
EGP Project Respectful Community Conduct line is an independent, confidential, third-party reporting line for members of the public in surrounding communities to report occurrences of EGP Project worker inappropriate conduct in the community, including harassment or violence.
Construction in Squamish and Coquitlam
We believe in working with local communities as we build this project and have taken steps in both Squamish and Coquitlam to do reduce impacts from our work.
The following maps provide an overview of active construction.
Squamish
In Squamish, construction activities to be aware of at this time are ongoing road maintenance and trucks travelling along the Mamquam and Stawamus Indian River Forest Service Roads. For safety, there is also a full closure of Ray Basin Road unless otherwise posted, as well as on the Stawamus Indian River Forest Service Road beginning at approximately kilometre point 9.
Coquitlam
In Coquitlam, we’ve installed fencing along roughly 1.5 kilometres of our right of way adjacent to nearby trails in Coquitlam’s Eagle Mountain area. Recreational users should be aware of parking and intermittent trail closures with posted signage in the Eagle Mountain area, along with increased noise levels as we prepare our Eagle Mountain Compressor Station for upgrades.
![Coquitlam construction recreation impacts](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/24-030.19-Coquiltam-map-rec-impacts-WEB-844x585.jpg?itok=qM5_dIaX)
Rigorous environmental reviews and research
Our regulators Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the Province of British Columbia approved this project in 2016. Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw completed their own independent environmental assessment on the project – the first of its kind in Canada.
Temporary workforce lodge
When we first began this project in 2013, we had originally planned for a hybrid accommodation model, leveraging local hotels and rental units, and a smaller workforce lodge. We heard from local governments, Indigenous communities and residents that they were concerned about the pressure on local housing, strain on community services and impacts on traffic. Following that consultation, we learned that the preference was to house all workers at a single site.
A footprint increase for our Temporary Workforce Lodge, from two to seven hectares, was approved by the Environmental Assessment Office and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw in fall 2023. It will house an average of 300 workers at a time, and peak to about 600 workers during the summer of 2025. The final step prior to lodge construction will be to secure a Temporary Use Permit from the District of Squamish.
Compressor stations
Compressor stations perform the essential tasks of compressing the natural gas and regulating its pressure so it can flow through the system to our customers’ homes and businesses. We're installing a new compressor station at the Woodfibre LNG site and upgrading the existing compressor station in Coquitlam.
Project timeline
Project approvals
Initial construction activities
Tunnel Portals construction
Tunnel construction
Squamish compressor station construction
Pipeline twinning construction in Coquitlam
Eagle Mountain compressor station
Pipeline construction in Indian River Valley and Squamish area
July 28, 2023
Construction starting soon
June 26, 2023
Indigenous naming
April 17, 2023
Open house cancelled due to inclement weather
August 5, 2022
Statement regarding Enbridge’s investment in Woodfibre LNG
July 26, 2022
Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline project quantitative risk assessment
June 9, 2022
Our crews are in the field
April 25, 2022
Proposal for two pipes in the Squamish tunnel
April 5, 2022
EGP project changes approved
March 22, 2022
Proposed size increase for workforce lodging site
March 22, 2022
Join us for upcoming information sessions
March 9, 2022
Upcoming pre-construction activities in Squamish
February 25, 2022
Update on tunnel component of the project
November 29, 2021
EAO decision on EGP project changes
October 8, 2021
Weather extends schedule for geotechnical investigations
September 23, 2021
Proposed relocation of existing gas line northeast of Valleycliffe
August 23, 2021
Upcoming geotechnical investigations near Squamish and in the Indian River Valley
August 6, 2021
Extension of Environmental Assessment Certificate approved
May 20, 2021
Environmental surveys in Squamish and Coquitlam
February 1, 2021
Weather extends schedule for geotechnical investigations
December 9, 2020
Recordings from fall Squamish and Coquitlam information sessions
December 4, 2020
Upcoming field work at BC Rail property in Squamish
November 19, 2020
Coquitlam virtual information sessions
November 3, 2020
FortisBC applies for an Environmental Assessment Certificate extension
October 29, 2020
Squamish virtual information sessions
October 28, 2020
Environmental Assessment Certificate amendments filed
September 15, 2020
Upcoming geotechnical work on forest service roads in Stawamus Valley and Indian River Valley
August 18, 2020
Recording of August 13th virtual information session
July 29, 2020
Virtual information sessions
February 20, 2020
Upcoming proposed changes to require amendments to Environmental Assessment Certificate
November 1, 2019
Upcoming geotechnical work in Coquitlam
October 29, 2019
Upcoming geotechnical work within District of Squamish
October 3, 2019
Upcoming community engagement
August 16, 2019
Geotechnical work begins on forest service roads in Indian River Valley
June 27, 2019
Upcoming geotechnical work on forest service roads in Indian River Valley
May 28, 2019
Upcoming geotechnical work on private properties
November 30, 2018
Squamish Nation approves economic benefit agreement
June 11, 2018
Join us for free mini golf and BBQ lunch
October 20, 2017
Squamish Community Office – Update
June 14, 2017
Squamish Community office reopens
January 24, 2017
FortisBC explains why trees were removed for safety during geotechnical investigations
November 6, 2016
FortisBC completes geotechnical work on the Squamish dike
November 4, 2016
Woodfibre LNG authorized to continue with proposed LNG export facility
November 3, 2016
Our response to incident at Squamish Community Office
August 9, 2016
Provincial government issues Environmental Assessment Certificate
June 24, 2016
Squamish Nation Chiefs and Council voted to approve an Environmental Assessment Agreement
October 7, 2015
Open house in Squamish
September 24, 2015
Public comment period on FortisBC addenda on final report to Environmental Assessment Office
June 26, 2015
Squamish Nation Council outlines a series of environmental conditions
April 21, 2015
Open house District of Squamish
February 12, 2015
Open house in Coquitlam
June 11, 2014
Open house in Gibsons
November 21, 2013
Open house in Coquitlam
November 16, 2013
Open house in Squamish
Where will the Squamish Compressor Station be located?
Answered on:
Jun 15, 2021
How did you select the proposed route?
Answered on:
Aug 12, 2020
Our commitment to local communities
The safety and environmental wellbeing of local communities is extremely important to us, and it’s a value we know we share with local residents. That’s why we’ll continue to work with residents and community members to understand and mitigate any concerns. Members of the FortisBC team will regularly be in local communities, communicating the project and listening to concerns and feedback.
Benefits to local communities
FortisBC is supporting a variety of local, non-governmental associations and organizations – including groups that support vulnerable populations. FortisBC is also supporting various Indigenous businesses and cultural initiatives through the agreements we have in place with local Indigenous communities. These agreements will provide direct economic opportunities for Indigenous businesses to participate in the project, and provide jobs and training to many members of local Indigenous communities.
This project will provide a wide variety of employment opportunities for the local workforce, from construction to supporting services. For example, we will be working with our contractors to promote the use of Squamish businesses to supply small tools, materials and general support services.
This project will generate significant revenue for the District of Squamish through various forms of taxes and fees.
Indigenous feedback helps to improve our Eagle Mountain - Woodfibre Gas Pipeline project
We value working directly with local First Nations to listen to their concerns and understand their perspective. We’re engaging with the following First Nations to discuss the expansion project details and listen to their questions and concerns:
One of our top priorities is to engage local communities so that they understand the work we're doing
Keeping the community informed
We value the importance of keeping the community informed about the project. One of the ways we do this is by meeting with community groups and stakeholders to provide project updates. A recent example of this is our presentation to the Rotary Club of Squamish in June 2021.
Tri-Cities Chamber and SHARE Society food drive
![Two women stand behind a SHARE Family & Community Services banner](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-05/21-054.21-TriCities-FoodDrive-inline.jpg?itok=JXVfOjla)
We joined and supported the Tri-Cities Chamber for their 2021 Christmas Luncheon, which featured a food drive for the SHARE Family & Community Services Society. In total, the drive collected over 600 pounds of food for families in need. We were thrilled to partner with the Chamber on this initiative, and will continue looking for similar opportunities to give back to the communities where we live and work
Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival
![Two women wearing masks stand under a FortisBC tent](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-05/21-054.20-LoggersFest-inline-2.jpg?itok=EG4q5tlk)
Our team joined the Squamish community at the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival, which was back in action in September 2021. We were able to connect with hundreds of attendees and enjoyed sharing information and answering questions about FortisBC and the EGP project. Congratulations to all the competitors, and we can’t wait to see the community at this event in future years.
A conversation with Bryan Couture
The Squamish Day Loggers Sports Festival celebrates the connection between Squamish and local industry. We spoke with Bryan Couture in 2016, then-president of the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Association, about the importance of the event to the community and how industry growth can benefit Squamish.
Questions from the community during 2020
We know you have questions, and our team is here to provide answers. In 2020, we held several virtual information sessions in Squamish and Coquitlam to ensure interactive opportunities for the public to ask questions and learn more about the project.
Our team compiled 30 questions from our August update to the Squamish community. We also compiled over 50 questions from all six sessions.
We’ll continue to keep the public informed as the project progresses.
![Two people stand under a FortisBC tent smiling at the camera](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-05/18-066.8_TE_EGP_Mini_Golf_Header-WEB.jpg?itok=D6JDDRD5)
FortisBC hosts another fun family event in Squamish community
In June 2018, we sponsored a free mini-golf and barbecue event at the Whistle Punk Hollow Adventure RV Park for the community of Squamish. More than 100 people visited our booth and learned more about our natural gas services and our project in the area.
![People stand behind a large cheque from FortisBC for $5000 to Garibaldi Highlands Elementary](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-05/16-252_TE_Newsletter_community_grant3_844x600-PP.jpg?itok=34AfhJbw)
Community grants support local initiatives
At FortisBC, we serve more than 135 communities across the province. Giving back to the communities where our over 2,400 employees live and work is an important part of our efforts to create a sustainable future for British Columbians.
We’ve been a part of the Squamish community for over 30 years. And we take our role as a good corporate citizen very seriously. The local recipients of our community investment grants include a wide-range of organizations that are working hard to make Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky region a better place to live.
Regulatory process
In 2016 the project received approval from the provincial Environmental Assessment Office and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). In 2021 the project’s approval was extended for a further five years.
- Environmental Assessment Office Certificate
- Schedule A: Environmental Assessment Certificate Certified Project Description
- Schedule B: Environmental Assessment Certificate Table of Conditions
- Environmental Assessment Office Certificate Amendment 1
- Environmental Assessment Office Certificate Amendment 2 application
You can view all finalized environmental and condition management plans at the Environmental Assessment Office’s project portal.
BC Energy Regulator
We’ve applied for a permit through the BC Energy Regulator to discharge treated water generated from tunnel construction activities at the BC Rail and Woodfibre LNG sites in Squamish. All water generated through construction activities will be treated, prior to discharge, in accordance with the Environmental Management Act and to meet BC Water Quality Guidelines.
Details on the project and water management can be found in our application documents.
As part of a temporary Waste Discharge Authorization, we publish weekly reports of our water quality testing results. Our reports include monitoring and sampling activities to ensure water quality in the receiving environment meets these guidelines.
Additional resources
We’ve been engaging on the Eagle Mountain - Woodfibre Gas Pipeline project since 2013. Materials related to these discussions are available below.