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VICTORIA — A request to allow a second floating workcamp or “floatel” for workers building the Woodfibre LNG liquified natural gas construction site southwest of Squamish, B.C. has been approved.

According to a release from the province, the deputy chief executive assessment officer of the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) made the decision Nov. 6 after considering the EAO’s review.

The application to amend the Woodfibre LNG environmental assessment certificate also requires approvals by Squamish Nation and the federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, which are expected to be announced.

Conditions for the first floatel, which has been housing workers since June 2024, were put in place to address impacts to housing, safety and community services, including restricting floatel residents’ access to Squamish.

Similar to its review, the EAO considered potential impacts on residents, housing and services in nearby communities in reviewing the request for the second floatel.

Conditions were updated to include the second floatel, with clarified requirements on workforce accommodation and exceptions, without increasing the number of workers living in the District of Squamish or introducing new risks, the release reads.

For those residing on the floatels, worker access to the District of Squamish for recreation, entertainment or other non-work-related activities continues to be restricted. Woodfibre LNG must also continue to maintain the Gender Safety Advisory Committee and Workplace Culture Committee and provide access to medical and mental-health services for all workers.

Woodfibre LNG General Partner Ltd. is building the liquefied natural gas export facility at the ancestral Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) village site of swiýát, located approximately seven kilometres southwest of Squamish. The site more recently operated as the Woodfibre Pulp and Paper Mill until 2006, the release explains.

The project includes a land-based natural gas processing and liquefication facility, condensate storage, floating storage tanks, offloading unit and jetty and now two floating accommodations for workers.

The project received its EA certificate in October 2015, and will be supplied with natural gas by FortisBC’s Woodfibre-Eagle Mountain pipeline.

The facility is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2027.

This latest approval requires the second floatel to be connected to the BC Hydro power grid by June 1, 2026, with additional air-quality monitoring and reporting required during temporary use of diesel generators.

The first floatel is connected to the electricity grid.

EAO compliance and enforcement officers monitor projects on an ongoing basis to make sure they meet all requirements throughout construction and operation, the release adds.