NEB schedules hearing for new pipeline in Southwest Ontario

CALGARY , Nov. 6 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (the Board or NEB) today announced it will hold a public hearing on a recent application from Dawn Gateway Pipeline General Partner Inc. (Dawn Gateway GP) requesting approval to own and operate a new natural gas pipeline system.

Dawn Gateway GP, a partnership between Westcoast Energy Inc. (Spectra) and DTE Pipeline Company, has applied for permission to purchase two portions of existing pipeline and construct another segment of pipeline.

Starting at the international border in the St. Clair River and ending at the Dawn Compressor Station in Lambton County, Ontario, the proposed Dawn Gateway Pipeline is a 34 kilometre pipeline project that includes the Belle River Mills Pipeline in Michigan. The Canadian portion of the project requires the construction of 17 kilometres of new pipeline between the Bickford and the Dawn Compressor Stations, the purpose of which is to connect the existing St. Clair Pipeline to the Dawn Hub.

As part of its consideration of this application, the Board decided to examine whether the project, if it is completed, should be subject to federal jurisdiction. The Board issued a Notice of Constitutional Question on 22 October 2009 setting out the process for examining this issue.

An oral hearing to consider the application and hear the views of interested persons will be conducted by the Board starting at 9 am , on 23 February, at a location to be determined near the proposed pipeline.

For this proceeding, the NEB has identified a number of issues to be examined, three of which include the potential environmental and socio-economic effects of the proposed facilities, the method for acquiring the lands necessary for the pipeline, as well as toll and tariff matters.

Any person wishing to participate in this hearing process may do so in one of three ways:

    
    i.    by filing an application to intervene by 30 November 2009 with the
          Secretary of the Board, and serving a copy on Dawn Gateway GP and
          its counsel;

    ii.   by filing a letter of comment with the Secretary of the Board, and
          sending a copy to Dawn Gateway GP and its counsel by 14 January
          2010; or

    iii.  by filing a letter with the Secretary of the Board requesting the
          opportunity to make an oral statement, and by sending a copy to
          Dawn Gateway GP and its counsel by 14 January 2010.
    

The NEB Web site outlines general information about the hearing process and how the public can participate effectively. To access the information, go to www.neb-one.gc.ca, select Hearings and Information Sessions, and then click on Participate in a Public Hearing.

Celebrating 50 years of regulatory leadership, the NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

This news release and the Hearing Order GH-2-2009 are also available on the Board's Internet site under What's New!

For further information: Carole Léger-Kubeczek, [email protected], Communications Officer, Telephone: [phone]; 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, Telecopier: [phone], Telecopier (toll free): 1-877-288-8803, TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663, Email: [email protected]