Metlakatla and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission sign LNG pipeline project agreement

An agreement signed today between the Metlakatla First Nation and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission will provide a role for Metlakatla in the monitoring of the construction and operation of the Pacific NorthWest LNG liquefaction facility pipeline proposed for Lelu Island.

The specific terms of the agreement will remain confidential, but aspects of the project arrangements include access to employment for Metlakatla First Nation members, training and capacity development and an initial payment and annual payments for the life of the proposed pipeline project.

"Achieving this agreement with the Metlakatla First Nation is a major milestone for us, particularly since it has a significant interest in the Skeena estuary and wants to ensure that the environment around the Pacific NorthWest liquefaction facility is protected. The agreement is a strong indicator of the importance we place on engaging with First Nations to ensure their input on environmental and cultural impacts is genuinely incorporated into our project, and that they benefit from the construction and operation of the PRGT pipeline project," -- Dean Patry, president of Prince Rupert Gas Transmission, outlining some background to today's agreement with the Metlakatla First Nation

It's the second term sheet agreement that the Metlakatla First Nation has signed related to the Lelu Island terminal project, in mid December of 2014 they completed an arrangement with Pacific NorthWest LNG providing for benefits and conditions similar in nature to those delivered from today's announcement with Prince Rupert Gas Transmission.

Following today's announcement, Chief Harold Leighton expressed support for the project and the measures that the Metlakatla First Nation believe Prince Rupert Gas Transmission will take when it comes to the pipeline to Lelu Island.

"The pipeline project and the Pacific NorthWest facility will benefit our members for many years to come. We are confident that TransCanada will work diligently to ensure our way of life and the environment, and in particular Lelu Island, will not be negatively affected by the project."

Today's agreement with Metlakatla
is the eight arrangement reached for
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission related
to its pipeline plans across BC

The announcement from today heralds the latest in project agreements signed by Prince Rupert Gas Transmission, which had previously reached agreements with seven other First Nations across Northern British Columbia, including the Nisga'a Lisims Government, Gitanyow First Nation, Lake Babine Nation and Kitselas First Nation in the Northwest.

You can review more of the background from today's announcement here.

For more items of interest related to the Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal plans see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review