NEB seeking public comment on Trans Mountain pipeline
Published by Lydia Woellwarth,
Editor
World Pipelines,
The National Energy Board (NEB) wants to hear from affected parties, the public and Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (Trans Mountain) on how the NEB should proceed with regulatory processes for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (Project), including compliance with Project conditions and approval of the detailed route.
On 18 June 2019, the Government of Canada approved the Project. As directed, the NEB issued a Certificate and amendments to existing Certificates to Trans Mountain. The issuance of Certificates does not automatically reinstate previous NEB decisions or orders required for Trans Mountain to begin or resume construction of the Project. The NEB must now decide how regulatory processes for the Project will resume.
The NEB’s proposed approach is to continue the processes that were underway, and to rely on decisions and orders that were issued prior to the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) decision on the Project in August 2018, unless relevant circumstances have materially changed.
The NEB is committed to doing its job in a way that is fair, efficient, and transparent to everyone involved. The NEB’s intent is to minimise any potential burden on participants by not repeating processes unnecessarily, while at the same time, ensuring that it accounts for relevant circumstances that have material changes. The public may file comments online or via fax or mail, until 5 July. Instructions on how to file are on the NEB’s website. Trans Mountain’s initial comment filing deadline is 28 June, with its reply comments due on 9 July. All comments received will be available on the NEB’s website.
In order to provide clarity for Canadians on the next steps for the Project, the NEB intends to resolve this matter as efficiently as possible. Following the comment period, the NEB will decide how the regulatory processes will resume. Until that decision is made, Trans Mountain cannot rely on previously issued decisions and orders to start or resume Project construction.
The NEB is a full-lifecycle regulator that has over 60 years of experience regulating pipelines, power lines, energy development and trade for Canadians. Trans Mountain will be held to some of the strictest safety and environmental protection standards in the world. The NEB will ensure that construction is restarted safely and that the Project is built, operated and maintained properly to make sure people, communities and the environment are protected.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/24062019/neb-seeking-public-comment-on-trans-mountain-pipeline/
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