NEB announces public hearing for NGTL's North Montney Project

CALGARY, Feb. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) will hold a public hearing, which will include an oral portion, to consider an application from Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) to construct and operate approximately 306 km of pipeline and associated facilities in northeast British Columbia.

The proposed natural gas pipeline, referred to as the North Montney Mainline, will consist of two sections: Aitken Creek and Kahta. It will connect with the existing Groundbirch Mainline (Saturn Section), located about 35 km southwest of Fort St. John and will continue about 187 km northwest of Fort St. John. The NEB has identified a number of issues for discussion during the hearing, including:

• the need for the proposed Project
• its economic feasibility,
• its potential commercial impacts,
• the appropriate tolling methodology,
• standards for determining the recovery of costs to provide service on the proposed Project,
• its potential environmental and socio-economic effects, including those to be considered under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012,
• the appropriateness of the general route and land requirements,
• its engineering design and integrity,
• potential impacts on Aboriginal interests,
• potential impacts on landowners and land use,
• contingency planning for spills, accidents or malfunctions, during construction and operation of the Project, and
• terms and conditions to be included in any approval or recommendation.

The Board must hear from anyone who, in the Board's opinion, is directly affected by the proposed Project, and may choose to hear from anyone who has relevant information or expertise.

If you wish to participate, you must fill out the Application to Participate form. The form will be available on 18 February 2014. Go to www.neb-one.gc.ca, click on "Major Applications and Projects" located on the left hand side of the main webpage, then click on "Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. - North Montney Project", where you will find a link to the "Application to Participate" form.

When completing your Application to Participate, you must show that your interest in this Project, or the information or expertise you wish to contribute, is relevant to one or more of the Issues identified in the List of Issues in the Hearing Order.

If the Board determines you are eligible to participate, it will be in one of two ways:

1. as a Commenter (by writing your views in a Letter of Comment); or
2. as an Intervenor.

The deadline for filing your Application to Participate is noon (Calgary time) on 19 March 2014.

You can also contact the Board's Process Advisor, Katie Emond, for this Project toll-free 1-800-899-1265 or [email protected] if you have questions about this hearing or how to participate.

The Board is also hosting online and teleconference training sessions on how to complete the Application to Participate form. If you would like to sign up for a session, contact the Process Advisor at 1-800-899-1265 or [email protected].

Sessions are scheduled for:

Wednesday, February 19		3:00 - 4:30 p.m. MST
Wednesday, February 19		8:00 - 9:30 p.m. MST
Thursday, March 13		3:00 - 4:30 p.m. MST
Thursday, March 13		8:00 - 9:30 p.m. MST

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.

This news release and the Hearing Order are also available on the Board's Internet site under What's New!

Related documents:

• 2013-02-05 Hearing Order GH-001-2014 [Filing A3T7V0]
• 2013-11-08 Application for North Montney Project [Folder 1060220]

For a copy of the Hearing Order: 
National Energy Board Library
Ground Floor
444 Seventh Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0X8
Telephone: [phone]
Toll-free telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 403-292-5576
Toll-free facsimile: 1-877-288-8803
Email: [email protected] 

Image with caption: "North Montney Project : Aitken Creek and Kahta Sections (CNW Group/National Energy Board)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140205_C7948_PHOTO_EN_36354.jpg

SOURCE: National Energy Board

Whitney Punchak
Communications Officer
Telephone: [phone]
Toll-free telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Toll-free facsimile: 1-877-288-8803
TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663
E-mail: [email protected]