National Energy Board gives one-week notice for comments on Trans Mountain tanker traffic

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      The National Energy Board will hold a public hearing on the marine impact of an expanded Trans Mountain oil pipeline.

      The NEB announced Wednesday (September 26) that it had struck a panel to reconsider its previous recommendations regarding the tanker aspect of the project.

      In the same announcement, the NEB gave people who want to file comments and apply to participate in the hearing a one-week deadline.

      According to the board, the deadline is next Wednesday (October 3).

      The federal Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the new owner of the Trans Mountain pipeline system.

      On August 31 this year, shareholders in Kinder Morgan Canada Limited approved the $4.5 billion sale of the pipeline to the Canadian government.

      The move came a day after the Federal Court of Appeal quashed the government’s approval of the $9.3-billion Trans Mountain expansion.

      The project would triple oil shipments from Alberta to B.C., and increase by nearly seven-fold tanker traffic.

      According to the court, the NEB’s review of the expansion, among others, did not consider the effect of the project on southern resident orcas.

      On September 20, the government, which is now the pipeline owner, referred back to the NEB aspects of the previous review of the board regarding marine shipping.

      The government gave the NEB until February 22, 2019 to make a report.

      In its September 26 media release, the NEB stated that a panel composed of Lyne Mercier, Alison Scott, and Murray Lytle will hold a public hearing.

      No date for the public hearing was indicated.

      “The NEB will carry out its reconsideration related to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project as directed by the Order in Council, and in a fair, efficient, and accessible manner,” NEB chair and CEO Peter Watson stated in the release.

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