Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) will soon hold detailed route hearings as part of its ongoing regulatory oversight of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
The 1,147 km pipeline project was approved by the Government of Canada in November 2016 along an approximate 150 metre wide pipeline corridor. The detailed route approval process will determine the exact placement of the new pipeline within the approved corridor.
Hearings for segments one and two will take place in Alberta in November and December. Hearings in relation to the remaining segments which are located in British Columbia will take place in 2018.
From April to July, the NEB received 452 statements of opposition to the proposed detailed route. It will hold a public hearing for all statements of opposition that met the requirements of the National Energy Board Act.
The Federal Government approved the Trans Mountain expansion project last November, following a NEB recommendation in May 2016 that the project be approved subject to 157 conditions. While many address the full lifespan of the pipeline, the company is required to complete 98 pre-construction conditions before any construction begins.
“The detailed route hearing process is a very important part of the NEB’s regulatory oversight role. It focuses on the specific concerns of landowners or affected persons directly impacted by the proposed route. By listening to their concerns, the NEB can ensure that the pipeline is placed in the best possible location,” said Peter Watson, Chair & CEO, National Energy Board, in a statement.
image: flikr
