Joint Review Panel for Enbridge Northern Gateway Project Finalizes Schedule for Community Hearings

CALGARY, June 27, 2012 /CNW/ - The Joint Review Panel (the Panel) conducting the review of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Project has finalized the schedule that it will follow to complete the remaining hearings for oral statements.

The Panel has adjusted the hearing dates for some locations and set the dates for hearings in Comox (BC), Port Hardy (BC), Calgary (AB) and Edmonton (AB). This portion of the community hearings will be completed by early August 2012. The hearings in Vancouver (BC), Victoria (BC) and Kelowna (BC) will take place in January and February 2013. Specific dates and scheduling deadlines for all locations can be found on the Panel's website at www.gatewaypanel.review.gc.ca.

As previously announced, the questioning phase of the final hearings will start on 4 September 2012. The Panel expects this phase to be completed by December 2012. The Panel will hear oral statements in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna in January and February 2013. Final argument will take place in March and April 2013 and is expected to be completed in April 2013. Based on this timeline, the Panel expects to issue its report and findings on the proposed project by December 2013.

The proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Project involves the construction of two 1 170-kilometre pipelines running from Bruderheim, Alberta to Kitimat, British Columbia and the construction and operation of the Kitimat Marine Terminal.

For more information on the joint review process, please visit the Panel's website at www.gatewaypanel.review.gc.ca.

About the Joint Review Panel
The Joint Review Panel for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project is an independent body, mandated by the Minister of the Environment and the National Energy Board. The Panel will assess the environmental effects of the proposed project and review the application under both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act.

Annie Roy ([email protected])
Manager, Communications
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: [phone]

Kristen Higgins ([email protected])
Communications Officer
National Energy Board
Tel: [phone] / (toll free): 1-800-899-1265