West Coast Environmental Law and the Tbuck Suzuki Foundation are calling on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to reopen the public comment period for Pacific NorthWest LNG's planner terminal on Lelu Island.
In a letter sent by counsel Andrew Gage, the two groups say the fact the Skeena River was missing from the original map filed by Pacific NorthWest LNG means some impacted parties may have missed out on providing feedback.
"As a result of these inaccurate notices, it may well be that individuals who might be concerned about the Skeena River may have failed to appreciate the project's proximity to the river and failed to make comments, or to apply for participant funding, as a result. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is not responsible for each and every map generated by a proponent. However, the agency is responsible for ensuring that the process it provides remains fair, including by ensuring the information it provides in public notices is accurate," reads the letter.
"In this case, the agency chose to adopt the inaccurate map and to use it in its public notices on its website. As such, in our view, the agency bears the responsibility of remedying its mistake.
"In our view, the agency has an obligation to invite further public input related to the draft EIS and further opportunity to apply for participant funding. If desired, this further input could be limited to input directly or indirectly related to the Skeena River (including associated environmental values), although in our view it would be simplest simply to re-open the public consultation/participant funding opportunities."
Pacific NorthWest LNG submitted a corrected map on Aug. 8, but the TBuck Suzuki Foundation noted it was done after several public participation periods had elapsed. However, senior advisor of corporate affairs Spencer Sproule said the Skeena was certainly not left out of the filing.
"Our project description makes specific reference to the Skeena River in the text of the document. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency accepted our project description in its entirety," he said, adding what happens with the assessment is out of the company's hands.
"We can't speak on behalf of CEAA in regard to their procedures or practices."
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency confirmed receipt of the letter, but declined to publicly respond.