Trans Mountain Accepts NEB's Revised Timeline

Ensures Preferred Route is Fully Explored

BURNABY, BC, July 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Trans Mountain is disappointed in the delay to the hearing process announced by the National Energy Board (NEB) in its July 15, 2014 news release and revised hearing schedule, but respects the NEB's process and their decision.

The new hearing schedule, which will result in nearly a seven month delay in receiving the NEB's recommendation to the Government of Canada on the Project (now scheduled for January 25, 2016), is as a result of a four kilometre deviation in pipeline corridor in Burnaby.

Trans Mountain decided to switch to the option of tunneling or drilling through Burnaby Mountain, from an original study corridor in May 2014. This decision was made largely in response to community feedback. The preferred route through Burnaby Mountain will avoid having to construct the pipeline through the neighbourhood between the Burnaby Terminal and the Westridge Marine Terminal, and if the tunneling proves feasible, it would enable moving the existing line between the terminals as well.  

"We stand by our commitment to listen and respond to input from individuals and communities," said Ian Anderson, President of Kinder Morgan Canada. "The additional time in the process provides Intervenors and others more time to review our proposal and ensures we can fully explore the route we are proposing after listening to the people of Burnaby."

The additional time will allow for Trans Mountain to conduct the necessary engineering and environmental studies on the Burnaby Mountain route, a section representing four kilometres of the proposed 980 kilometre pipeline expansion.

Since the initiation of the proposed Project in 2012, Trans Mountain has conducted ongoing engagement regarding pipeline routing with Aboriginal groups, landowners and stakeholders including local, regional and provincial governments. Following the December 2013 filing, Trans Mountain continued its work to optimize the route and reduce impacts to people and the environment through a combination of technical and environmental studies, engagement activities and on-the-ground fieldwork.

See the NEB news release and revised hearing schedule here.

Image with caption: "Trans Mountain Accepts NEB's Revised Timeline (CNW Group/Kinder Morgan Canada - Trans Mountain Expansion Project)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140717_C1983_PHOTO_EN_4342.jpg

SOURCE: Kinder Morgan Canada - Trans Mountain Expansion Project

PROJECT MEDIA INQUIRIES: Email: [email protected], Phone: [phone], Website: www.transmountain.com, @TransMtn