Joint Review Panel for Enbridge Northern Gateway Project Releases Schedule for the First Portion of the Community Hearings for Oral Statements

CALGARY, March 8, 2012 /CNW/ - The Joint Review Panel (the Panel) conducting the review of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Project has released the schedule for the first portion of the community hearings for oral statements.

The Panel will begin hearing oral statements in Grande Prairie, AB, on 28 March 2012.  Individuals who registered by the 6 October 2011 deadline and who are not intervenors are able to make an oral statement. The Panel will start by hearing oral statements in locations near the proposed Project area. Priority will be given to local residents when finalizing the order of appearances for the community hearing locations. The schedule for this first portion of the community hearings for oral statements can be found below.

Location	Venue	Date and Start Time
Grande Prairie, AB	Quality Hotel and Conference Centre 11201 - 100^th  Avenue	28 March 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m.
Comox, BC	Comox Community Centre 1855 Noel Avenue	30 March 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 31 March 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Klemtu, BC	To be confirmed	13 April 2012 Starting at 9:30 a.m.
Smithers, BC	Hudson Bay Lodge and Convention Centre 3251 East Highway 16	23, 25, 26 and 30 April and 1 May 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 24 and 27 April 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 2 and 3 May 2012 (as required)
Terrace, BC	Kitsumkalum Community Hall 14295 Highway 16 West	7 May 2012 Starting at 7:00 p.m. 8, 9, 10 May 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 11 May 2012 (as required)
Prince Rupert, BC	North Coast Meeting and Convention Centre 240 - 1^st Avenue West	24, 25, 26 May 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 28 May 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 29 May 2012 (as required)
Old Massett, BC	Old Massett Community Hall 348 Eagle Avenue	1 June 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 2, 4, 5, and 6 June 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 7 June 2012(as required)
Skidegate, BC	Skidegate Community Hall 102 Front Street	13 and 14 June 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 15 and 18 June 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 19 June 2012 (as required)
Kitamaat Village, BC	Haisla Recreation Centre 1538 Jassee	25 and 26 June 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 27 June 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Hartley Bay, BC	To be confirmed	29 June 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Prince George, BC	Prince George Civic Centre 808 Civic Plaza	9 July 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m. 10, 11 and 12 July 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 13 July 2012 (as required)
Burns Lake, BC	Island Gospel Fellowship Church 810 Highway 35	17 July 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Fort St. James, BC	David Hoy Elementary School 1 Birch Street	19 July 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Bella Bella, BC	To be confirmed	26 and 28 July 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m. 27 July 2012 Starting at 1:00 p.m.
Hazelton, BC	New Hazelton Elementary School	30 and 31 July 2012 Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Bella Coola, BC	To be confirmed	To be confirmed
Edmonton, AB	To be confirmed	To be confirmed

The schedule to hear oral statements from locations outside the proposed Project area will be released at a later time. The locations of these hearing sessions will include Kelowna, BC; Vancouver, BC; Comox, BC (continued); Port Hardy, BC; Victoria, BC and Calgary, AB.

Oral statements are an opportunity for registered participants to provide their personal knowledge, views and concerns regarding the proposed Project to the Panel in their own words. Oral statements are brief and limited to a maximum of 10 minutes.

A complete list of all the community hearings along with additional information on the joint review process can be found on the Panel's website at www.gatewaypanel.review.gc.ca.

About the Joint Review Panel

The Joint Review Panel for the Northern Gateway Pipeline 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.

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.

This news release is available on the Panel's website (www.gatewaypanel.review.gc.ca) under What's New.

Annie Roy
Manager, Communications
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Telephone: [phone]
[email protected]

Kristen Higgins ([email protected])
Communications Officer
National Energy Board
Telephone [phone]
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Telecopier: 403-292-5503
Telecopier (toll free): 1-877-288-8803
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