PIPELINES / NEB hearing on PNGTS extension
NEB TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED DETAILED ROUTE FOR THE
TRANS QUEBEC & MARITIMES PIPELINE INC.'S PNGTS EXTENSION
CALGARY, June 10 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (''Board'') will hold
public hearings on written statements of opposition it has received to the
proposed detailed route of Trans Qu‚bec & Maritimes Pipeline Inc.'s (''TQM'')
extension to the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (''PNGTS
Extension'') in the United States. The PNGTS Extension consists of the
construction of natural gas pipeline and associated facilities from Lachenaie,
Quebec to the Canada/U.S. border near East Hereford, Quebec.
The public hearings will commence on 13 July 1998 in Magog/Orford,
Quebec. The hearings will then reconvene in Montreal, Quebec on 27 July 1998.
Interventions are to be filed by 22 June 1998.
In April 1998, the Board approved the general route for the PNGTS
Expansion following a public hearing held in November and December 1997. In
April 1998, TQM applied to the Board for approval of the Plans, Profiles and
Books of Reference (''PPBoR'') respecting the detailed route for the PNGTS
Extension. The Board has received 30 written statements of opposition to the
PPBoR.
As background, the Detailed Route Hearing process is designed to involve
all landowners and affected parties in the examination of the final pipeline
route. The process begins when the Company files its PPBoR following the
hearing held on the general route of the pipeline. The PPBoR identifies the
precise location of the pipeline, the lands to be crossed, the types and
amounts of land rights required and the affected landowners and tenants. The
company notifies each landowner from whom land and land rights are required.
The landowners have from the date of notification, 30 days to file oppositions
to the PPBoR as it relates to their land.
During the Detailed Route Hearings, parties opposing the pipeline will
have the opportunity to cross-examine TQM's witnesses and present their own
evidence concerning the best possible route for the pipeline and most
appropriate methods and timing of the construction of the pipeline. At the
hearing, the Board will not consider matters which were the subject of the
public hearing for the general route, such as the need for the pipeline and
its general route from Lachenaie to East Hereford. Furthermore, the Board bas
no authority to settle matters of compensation between landowners and pipeline
companies. Matters of financial compensation may be dealt with in separate
proceedings, such as negotiation and arbitration proceedings which are the
responsibilities of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada.
For a copy of Hearing Order MH-2-98: On the NEB Web Site:
www.neb.gc.ca - Under What's New!
At the NEB Office:
Library
Ground Floor
311 - Sixth Avenue S.W.
By Mail:
Publications Office
311 - Sixth Avenue S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 3H2
Tel: (403) 299-3562
Fax: (403) 292-5503
Email: orders@neb.gc.ca
-30-
For further information: Denis Tremblay, Communications Officer, (403)
299-2717, E-mail: denis.tremblay@neb.gc.ca
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