Northern Gateway faces 199 possible conditions

CALGARY — A shopping list of 199 proposed conditions have been compiled by the National Energy Board as it reviews the Northern Gateway pipeline project to bring Alberta crude to the B.C. coast.

The conditions include $950 million in insurance to cover cleanup, remediation and damages from project operations and “ready cash” of at least $100 million that can be accessed within 10 business days of a large spill.

Both the national agency and the builder, Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., emphasized on Friday that the conditions are being released to solicit comment and are not necessarily going to be part of the agreement if the line is approved.

The conditions cover nearly every aspect of the $6-billion project to construct two 1,170-kilometre pipelines from Bruderheim, northeast of Edmonton, to Kitimat, B.C., and the construction and operation of the Kitimat Marine Terminal.

“We’re of course reviewing these conditions right now as well,” said Enbridge spokesman Todd Nogier. “Under the process, we have to ensure that any input or commentary around these potential conditions are provided straight to the joint review panel.”

It provides for staff training requirements and reporting frequencies, coating minimums for the pipeline, confirmation of tolling agreements, land and sea environmental monitoring programs, marine mammal protection plans, pipeline pressure limits and aboriginal employment reports.

In a news release, the NEB said the conditions were developed based on oral and written submissions made to the joint review panel reviewing the pipeline in hearings held in Alberta and British Columbia.

“The potential conditions address all aspects of the proposed project including engineering, spill response, socio-economic and environmental requirements,” it said.

“The panel has not made any decisions on whether or not to recommend approval of the proposed project.”

It noted that the step is standard in any hearing process mandated by the courts and permits interveners, government participants and the applicant to provide comments and suggest additional conditions.

Those comments must be filed in writing by May 31, it said. Oral final argument are to commence June 17 in Terrace, B.C. and the panel’s recommendation is to be rendered by the end of the year.

Nogier said the federal government’s final decision is expected by mid-2014.

Original Article
Source: calgaryherald.com
Author: Dan Healing