First Nation fights to quash environmental approval for $885-million petroleum facility

The Metlakatla First Nation has filed a federal court petition to quash an environmental review approval of Dutch company Vopak’s $885-million bulk liquid petroleum storage facility in northwest B.C.

The facility — the second facility for the company on Ridley Island near Prince Rupert — would store and load products such as light diesel, gasoline, butane and methanol for its customers to ship by sea to Asia, as well as to Central and South America.

In its court filing last month, the 1,000-member First Nation cited significant concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from the project and its effect on climate change, and on air quality and wetlands.