Semiahmoo First Nation - Semiahmoo Biofuel Facility

Taurus RNG in partnership with Semiahmoo First Nation is proposing to develop, build, own and operate a commercial scale waste organics-to-renewable natural gas facility. The project will use organic waste collected within Metro Vancouver currently routed to landfills to generate biogas which will be upgraded to renewable natural gas using a proprietary anaerobic digestion solution.  Additionally, the project will offset the use of traditional chemical fertilizers by producing liquid ammonia sulphate fertilizer, and sending solid digestate to a compost facility to produce soil amendments.  The proposed project is located on approximately 2 hectares of Lot 10-3 and Lot 11 of the Semiahmoo Reserve. The Semiahmoo Reserve is located in south Surrey, BC, northwest of the Peace Arch border crossing and is bound by Highway 99 to the east, 8th Avenue to the north and Semiahmoo Bay to the southwest. 

 

Latest update

Notice of intent to make a determination

Semiahmoo First Nation - Semiahmoo Biofuel Facility – Public Comments Invited

 

February 29, 2024 - As of February 16, 2024, Natural Resource Canada is no longer a Federal Authority for the Semiahmoo RNG Project as it will not be enabling the project. Thus, NRCan no longer has a role in the assessment of environmental effects of the project under s.82 of the Impact Assessment Act.

 

October 19, 2023 – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) must determine whether the proposed Andion Biofuel Facility, located in Surrey, BC is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Canada Infrastructure Bank are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

 

First public comment period:  June 21, 2023 - July 22, 2023.

Second public comment period:  September 13, 2023 - October 14, 2023.

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE FEDERAL REVIEW PROCESS:

 

Prior to funding, financing, or issuing a lease or permit for the project, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) must complete an environmental assessment determination as to whether there will likely be significant adverse environmental effects arising from the proposed project.

 

The project is undergoing an Impact Assessment Act (IAA) review under Section 82 of the IAA, which is for a non-designated project on Federal lands.  This process is required for projects on Federal lands to determine adverse environmental effects, and provide mitigation measures which would form conditions of the ISC permit and lease which are required for the project.  The project was posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (CIAR) for two public comment periods beginning in June 2023 to allow for public participation in the review process.  Under the Impact Assessment Act, when a Federal Authority is required to make a determination under that Act, a Registry posting must be made which provides the public with a minimum 30 day comment period.  All comments received from the public as part of this process are taken into consideration and incorporated into the review process. Public comments received during these comment periods will be forwarded to the First Nation and environmental consultants working on an updated environmental assessment report to ensure that comments will be captured in their analysis. 

 

As this is an active environmental assessment process, the environmental consultants are already working on components such as wildlife, Species at Risk, air quality, wastewater, and odour, among others.  They must provide an analysis of anticipated impacts, and consider several factors such as adjacent communities when conducting their analysis. 

 

This process is required for projects on Federal lands to determine whether there is likely to be significant adverse environmental effects arising from the proposed project.  As the project is currently undergoing review, the determination by Federal Authorities of whether or not it is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects has not yet been made. 

 

The Partnership has provided Metro Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) with the information that would normally be required to obtain permits from Metro Vancouver and GVS&DD for this type of facility off-reserve.  Air dispersion modeling has been completed by the proponent and reviewed by tehnical subject matter experts at Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada to support ISC and CIB in the environmental review process. 

 

As project information and documents become available for public viewing, they will be posted below (documents are in english).

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Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document Number Document Title File Date
2 Andion Information Packet (english) PDF (1.4 MB) September 29, 2023
1 Air Quality Dispersion Modeling Report PDF (25.2 MB) June 5, 2023

Contacts

Indigenous Services Canada
Please Contact: BC Environment Team
1138 Melville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4S3
Email: bcciarpubliccomments@sac-isc.gc.ca


  • Location

    • Semiahmoo First Nation (British Columbia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Alternative Energy
    • Waste Management

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2023-06-21

  • Proponent

    Semiahmoo First Nation

  • Authorities

    • Canada Infrastructure Bank
    • Indigenous Services Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    85705
Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

 

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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