NEB issues Hearing Order for Enbridge Line 9B Reversal

CALGARY, Feb. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) today issued its Hearing Order for the Line 9B Reversal and Line 9 Capacity Expansion application submitted by Enbridge Pipelines Inc. (Enbridge).  As previously announced, the Board will hold a public hearing for this project, consisting of written evidence and oral final argument.

On 29 November 2012, Enbridge filed its application under section 58 and under Part IV of the National Energy Board Act. Enbridge is seeking approval for the reversal a 639-kilometre segment of Line 9 between North Westover, Ontario and Montreal, Québec. In addition, Enbridge requested to increase the capacity of the entire Line 9 from approximately 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) to approximately 300,000 bpd. Also included in the application is a request for the revision to the Line 9 Rules and Regulations Tariff to allow transportation of heavy crude oil.

The majority of proposed work would take place on existing Enbridge facilities and surface leases, with no planned ground disturbance along the pipeline right-of-way.

The shift in flow direction from west to east would see the pipeline revert back to the direction that was originally approved in 1975. The current westward flow has been in place since 1999.

The NEB has identified a number of issues for discussion during the hearing. The complete List of Issues that the Board will consider is listed in Appendix I of the Hearing Order [Filing A3F4W7], available on the Board's website at www.neb-one.gc.ca. Any person who wishes to suggest an amendment to the List of Issues must file their suggestion with the Board and serve a copy on Enbridge by noon, Calgary time, on 21 March 2013.

You must apply for and be granted participation rights by the Board in order for your views to be considered in this hearing. The Board must hear from persons who, in the Board's opinion, are directly affected by the project, and may choose to hear from persons who have relevant information or expertise.  Further information on how persons can apply to participate is provided in the Hearing Order. When completing your Application to Participate, you must demonstrate that your interest in this proceeding, or the information or expertise you wish to contribute, is relevant to the List of Issues.

The Application to Participate will be available on the NEB website after the List of Issues is finalized. A Procedural Update will be issued and will include the Application to Participate form and instructions on how to complete the application. The deadline to apply to participate is 11 April 2013.

More information about the hearing process and applying to participate is available in the Hearing Order or by contacting the Process Advisor, Michael Benson ([email protected]), at 403-299-1992 or toll-free at 1-800-899-1265.

The oral portion of the hearing will take place in late summer of 2013 at a location to be determined.

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.

SOURCE: National Energy Board

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

For further information: 

Whitney Punchak
Communications Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: [phone]
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803
TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663

Carole Léger-Kubeczek
Communications Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: [phone]
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803
TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663

For a copy of the Hearing Order: 

National Energy Board Library
Ground Floor
444 Seventh Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 0X8
Telephone: [phone]
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5576
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803
Email: [email protected]