Sweet gas, ski resorts get a pass from province on environmental reviews

VANCOUVER – The B.C. government has changed its environmental assessment rules to exempt sweet natural gas plants and destination resorts from review.

As of April 28, natural gas processing plants that produce less than two tonnes of sulphur emissions per day will not have to undergo provincial assessment.

And beginning Jan. 1 next year, ski and all-season resorts will not need to undergo assessment at all.

The province says the changes reduce duplication for projects that are subject to approval processes by other government agencies.

It also points out that gas plants remain subject to the federal Environment Assessment Act, allowing the federal minister to order a review.

But Anna Johnston of West Coast Environmental Law says the changes go far beyond cutting red tape, and eliminate a key fact-finding process.