Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline Ltd. filed a preliminaryenvironmental scoping submission with Canada’s National EnergyBoard to build and operate its planned gas pipeline to VancouverIsland. The company expects to file an application with the NEBthis fall.

The project is a joint undertaking by British Columbia Hydro andPower Authority (BC Hydro) and Williams Gas Pipeline Co. “Becausepart of the pipeline will be offshore, it will require acomprehensive study under the Canadian Environmental AssessmentAct,” said NEB spokesman Ross Hicks. “That’s why they have sentthis preliminary submission to us.”

The pipeline would transport gas from Sumas, WA, acrossWashington State and then across the ocean floor of Georgia Straitto one of several potential landfalls between Mill Bay and CowichanBay on Vancouver Island.

The company says in its submission that the existing gaspipeline linking Vancouver Island to the British Columbia mainland,operated by Centra Gas British Columbia, is reaching capacity. TheGeorgia Strait Crossing would provide gas to new generating plantsand meet future residential and commercial heating requirements onVancouver Island.

The Canadian portion of the project would originate at a pointon the international border in Boundary Pass, Strait of Georgia,and interconnect with the existing Centra transmission system at apoint south of Duncan, BC. The Canadian portion would be about 31miles long with about 23 miles offshore and eight miles onshore.The 16-inch pipe would move 100 MMcf/d and be in service November2002. The Canadian facilities are expected to cost $57 million.

A Williams pipeline unit said in February it had receivednon-binding interest for capacity of about 190 MMcf/d on GeorgiaStrait (see Daily GPI, Feb. 28).

©Copyright 2000 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.