Explainer
How the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) process works
Large projects in British Columbia (mines, LNG plants, pipelines, transmission lines and other major industrial projects above set size thresholds) need an environmental assessment certificate from the province before they can be built. The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) runs the review under the Environmental Assessment Act (2018).
The main stages
- Early engagement: the proponent describes the project, and the EAO consults Indigenous nations, the public and agencies.
- Readiness decision: the EAO decides whether the project goes into a full assessment.
- Process planning: the scope, methods and timelines are set.
- Application development and review: the proponent submits its application, and it is reviewed.
- Effects assessment and recommendation: the EAO prepares its assessment report and draft conditions.
- Decision: provincial ministers decide whether to issue a certificate, with conditions.
After the certificate
A certificate has a deadline by which the project must be substantially started, or it expires. The EAO can make, and reconsider, a substantially-started designation. That is happening now on Seabridge KSM. Many projects also need a federal decision, and these can run in parallel or under a cooperation agreement, as on Tilbury Phase 2 LNG.
Tracked B.C. projects with EAO files
- LNG Canada Phase 2B.C. · FID Sep 28, 2026; early works since Oct 1
- Coastal GasLink Phase 2B.C. · Proceeding; conditions met Sep 29
- Cedar LNGB.C. · Pipeline welded; FLNG >50%
- Ksi Lisims LNG + Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT)B.C. · Pre-FID
- Woodfibre LNGB.C. · ~65% complete
- North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL)B.C. · Phase 1 clearing since July; four line teams shortlisted
- Tilbury Phase 2 LNGB.C. · B.C. EA certificate and federal decision, both Sep 21
- Red Chris block cave and Eskay CreekB.C. ·
- Bell AI Fabric Hillside AI Centre, KamloopsB.C. · Construction since spring 2026
- Seabridge KSM copper-gold projectB.C. · Treaty Creek Terminal substantially complete and energized Aug 27, 2026; EAO reconsideration of substantially-started designation under way
- Eagle Mountain–Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (EGP)B.C. · Tunnel breakthrough Sept 2026; pipeline testing in Squamish from Oct 2026
What subscribers see that this page doesn’t show
| What you get | Free | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Project list with owner, status, next milestone and cost | ✓ | ✓ |
| Next 10 dates on the bid calendar | ✓ | ✓ |
| All 64 dated milestones, .ics export and a watchlist | — | ✓ |
| What happens on each date (details for every milestone) | — | ✓ |
| Procurement packages and buyer contacts per project | — | ✓ |
| Two monthly reports (PDF) with maps and buyer tables | — | ✓ |
| Mid-month update on projects that moved | — | ✓ |
Upgrade now: C$299/yr or C$39 a month
Opens secure checkout (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link). Cancel any time in two clicks.