Coastal GasLink has temporarily suspended clearing work on part of its pipeline route in northwest B.C.
The company says an internal audit revealed that Archaeological Impact Assessments (AIA) were not not in place before construction began.
The affected areas are east of Kitimat between the 585 and 631 kilometre marks of the 670-kilometre-long route which will service the LNG Canada facility.
As a condition of CGL’s permit, the assessments must be in place before any land disturbance occurs.
“Coastal GasLink is committed to protecting the environmental and cultural values of British Columbia during construction and operation of our natural gas pipeline,” said David Pfeiffer, President, Coastal GasLink, in a news release. “Coastal GasLink regrets the errors that led to construction activities taking place without having approved Archaeological Impact Assessments in place prior to start of construction.”
The company has notified the BC Oil and Gas Commission about the issue.
Pfeiffer says he has apologized to the affected Indigenous communities and has ordered an investigation of the incidents.
