The District of Squamish has granted FortisBC a Noise Exemption Permit for work related to the Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (EGP) Project. The exemption permit will allow Fortis to work 24-7 but with conditions to minimize inconvenience to neighbouring residents.
The company’s application to increase the workforce camp size to seven hectares was also approved in December last year. The approval will see the footprint of the camp increase from two hectares to seven hectares.
“We are currently undertaking site preparation works at both the BC Rail and Woodfibre LNG sites in Squamish to support two tunnel boring machines that will be used to construct the project’s tunnel component. We will begin assembling the tunnel boring machines for operation underground. During this time, crews are expected to start working 24 hours a day into 2026. “We do not expect noise levels from tunnelling to exceed noise levels to date.”
The permit was granted to FortisBC’s prime contractor, Frontier-Kemper Michels (FKM), to enable tunnel boring machines to operate continuously. The district said they expect after-hours noise to stay at current levels or even lower. The permit conditions also require various noise mitigation measures to minimize disturbance and inconvenience to neighbouring residents. There also has to be the provision of a resident complaint process.
In a statement on its website, FortisBC said its contractors have taken steps to mitigate noise, such as using equipment and barriers to reduce noise, designated access and trucking routes, and noise sensitivity training. The noise levels will also be monitored, and necessary changes will be made to minimize disturbance.
“We must work 24 hours a day to maintain the safety of workers and the environment. These tunnel-boring machines will be 25-30 meters below the surface, and once we start drilling, we need to keep drilling to continue to support the tunnel. The machines must keep boring and moving to prevent getting stuck,” FortisBC said. “If they did, that may result in negative environmental impact as we would need to safely retrieve the machines and begin boring again.”
Should residents experience any disturbances, they are encouraged to contact the FortisBC team at egp@fortisbc.com or call 1-855-380-5784. Inquiries are monitored, and the company said they will receive a timely response.
