National Energy Board will hear application for the Dawson Gas Processing
Plant

CALGARY, Aug. 3 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB) will hold an oral public hearing to consider an application submitted by Westcoast Energy Inc., carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast) for the proposed Dawson Gas Processing Facility and associated pipelines.

In addition, the project would call for of the construction and operation of a 1.5 kilometre loop to handle liquids during the separation process of natural gas liquids from the raw gas stream being delivered to the plant. To transport processed sweet gas, the project also requires the construction and operation of a one kilometre segment of new pipeline (Bessborough Pipeline) from the proposed Dawson Plant to the Groundbirch Pipeline which is owned by NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.

The Dawson Project would also include the purchase of a 4.1 kilometre section from the 33.5 kilometre Bissette Pipeline which has yet to be approved by the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission. The Bissette Pipeline would be constructed and operated by Spectra Energy Midstream.

The 4.1 kilometre section, which would be renamed Willowbrook Pipeline would allow a mixture of raw gas and acid gas to flow from the Dawson Plant to Westcoast's South Peace Pipeline.

The project, if approved, would have an in service date of 1 October 2011.

The NEB has identified a number of issues to be discussed during the proceeding. Among others, these include

    
    1. The need for the proposed facilities;

    2. The economic feasibility of the proposed facilities;

    3. The potential environmental and socio-economic effects of:
         a) the proposed facilities; and
         b) the location of the gas processing facilities;
       including those effects to be considered under the Canadian
       Environmental Assessment Act.
    

The oral portion of the hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., on 30 November 2010, at a location yet to be determined.

Interested persons are invited to participate in this hearing in one of three ways:

    
    (i)    by filing an application for intervenor status,
    (ii)   by filing a letter of comment, or
    (iii)  by making an oral statement to the Board.
    

To be considered for intervenor status, applications must be submitted by noon (MST) on Thursday, 26 August 2010; letters of comment and letters requesting permission to make an oral statement are due by noon (MST) on Tuesday, 19 October 2010. The above documents must be sent to the Secretary of the Board, and a copy sent to Westcoast and its counsel.

On-line application forms are available on the NEB's Internet site at www.neb-one.gc.ca. Under the "Regulatory Documents" heading, click on "Submit Document Electronically", and then click on "Letter of Comment" or "Request to Make an Oral Statement".

The hearing will be broadcast live over the NEB's Internet site. Anyone wishing to listen to the daily proceedings should log onto www.neb-one.gc.ca and follow instructions under "Hearings".

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest.

This news release and Hearing Order GH-3-2010 are available on the NEB's Internet site at www.neb-one.gc.ca under What's New!

For further information: Carole Léger-Kubeczek, ([email protected]), Communications Officer, Telephone: [phone]; For filing of documents and correspondence: Anne-Marie Erickson, Secretary of the Board, National Energy Board, 444 Seventh Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0X8, Facsimile: 403-292-5503