To the SLRD’s chagrin, Garibaldi at Squamish has applied to the Environmental Assessment Office for deadline extensions to meet some of the conditions set by the office.

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District was consulted by the EAO as to whether the office should allow for the extra leeway. It was cold to the idea.

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“The provincial [environment assessment] process is clear, and we feel they should meet the timeline laid out,” said SLRD chair Jack Crompton.

The regional district voted against allowing for the extension, though it’s unclear how much weight that wish will have – the SLRD is just one of several affected entities the EAO has asked for an opinion.

Garibaldi at Squamish, or GAS, was granted an environmental assessment certificate on Jan. 23, 2016, which had a number of conditions and deadlines attached to it.

Some of these stipulations are expected to be fulfilled by Jan. 23, 2019.

Rod MacLeod, the vice-president of planning at Garibaldi at Squamish, said that there were several conditions that may require more time.

MacLeod called the extension request a “formality” and said he expected the EAO to give leeway on the deadline.

“Nothing’s been said to indicate otherwise,” he told The Chief. “We are doing work on most of the conditions but some of them aren’t complete for various reasons, and so it’s going to take a little bit longer, that’s all.”

In a letter to the EAO, MacLeod said GAS needed more time to:

- create a groundwater research and monitoring plan

- study the effects of the project on fish and fish habitat in side channels

- assess alternative sites for the main pumping well

- report on a secondary source of water in case of emergencies

- develop an aquatic environment effects monitoring plan

- complete a dam failure consequence study

- finish weather monitoring initiatives

The EAO has yet to make a decision on the company’s request.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment said the office intends to finalize its considerations before the deadline, though there are no legislated timelines for deliberations on environmental assessment certificate amendments.

David Karn said in an email if the EAO doesn’t grant the timeline extension requested – and if GAS fails to meet the conditions by the deadline indicated – the certificate will not be nullified.

However, Karn said it would be considered out of compliance and the EAO’s enforcement team would then make an assessment about how to go from there.

The company wouldn’t, however, need to reapply for another certificate.

“Our office will consider all responses that we receive,” he said in response to the SLRD’s position.