TC Energy's Coastal GasLink pipeline fined again for environmental non-compliance

By Nia Williams

(Reuters) -TC Energy's Coastal GasLink pipeline in western Canada has been fined C$590,000 ($434,558) for 10 environmental non-compliance penalties, the British Columbia government said on Thursday, taking its total penalties to nearly C$1.4 million.

British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office imposed the penalties because of concerns about deficient erosion and sediment control measures that were identified during inspections along the pipeline construction route in April and May 2023.

"These latest financial penalties reflect the EAO's escalation of enforcement due to repeated non-compliance with EAO requirements," the regulator said in a news release.

Coastal GasLink was completed last November and connects gas fields in northwestern British Columbia with the Shell-led LNG Canada project, which will be Canada's first liquefied natural gas project when it starts operating next year.

"As soon as these issues were identified, we took immediate and decisive action to correct them," Coastal GasLink said in a statement, adding it had been fully compliant with the EAO on erosion and sediment control since autumn 2023.

The 670-kilometre (416-mile) has incurred a five previous penalties totaling more than C$800,000 for environmental infractions.

($1 = 1.3577 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Sonali Paul)