National Energy Board releases National Engagement Tour report

CALGARY, Jan. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB) has released Engaging Canadians on Pipeline Safety. The report follows a 34 city national engagement tour that the NEB Chair and CEO Peter Watson started in January 2015 in Atlantic Canada, and concluded June 3 in Calgary with the NEB Pipeline Safety Forum.

The report summarizes what the NEB heard during the engagement tour. It outlines common themes that were brought forward in every region of Canada and describes how the NEB will address the feedback.

From January to June 2015, Mr. Watson met directly with municipal and provincial leaders and staff, First Nations Chiefs and Band Councils, environmental groups, first responders and academics, as well as professional and industry organizations to discuss pipeline safety and environmental protection.

Through 2015, the NEB achieved several milestones that are in direct response to what Mr. Watson and NEB staff heard during the tour. They include: a full public consultation on company emergency response plans; the launch of a pipeline incident map; posting NEB inspection reports online; and opening two regional NEB offices in Montréal and Vancouver.

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"The NEB is not done with engaging Canadians: on the contrary, the Engagement Initiative was meant to be the beginning of a new and different kind of conversation with our stakeholders," said Peter Watson, NEB Chair and CEO.

Quick Facts: National Engagement Initiative

• NEB met with 80 stakeholder groups in 34 cities (including First Nations Chiefs and Band Councils, environmental organizations, universities, municipal governments, and regional first responders)
• 40,000 kilometres travelled in 9 provinces, 2 territories and through 3 blizzards
• 400 attendees at the NEB Pipeline Safety Forum
• 27,500 participants in the NEB's Online Discussion Forum

The National Energy Board is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada's energy industry with the safety of Canadians and protection of the environment as its top priority. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. For more information on the NEB and its mandate, please visit www.neb-one.gc.ca.

SOURCE National Energy Board

Contacts: Darin Barter, National Energy Board Communications, Email [email protected], Telephone: [phone]